Eagles Get Big Break They Need, Beat Oilers : Football: Quarterback Collins leads Santa Margarita to 30 second-half points in 37-16 victory.

Chris Collins paced the sideline anxiously, focusing on the scoreboard and wishing for a break. Seconds later, the Santa Margarita quarterback had what he hoped for and Huntington Beach had no hope left.

Collins seized the fourth-quarter momentum shift caused by an Oiler turnover, directing the Eagles on consecutive touchdown drives in a 37-16 nonleague victory in front of about 1,400 Thursday night at Huntington Beach. Collins was the game’s best player after halftime, leading Santa Margarita to 30 second-half points.

Collins completed 13 of 21 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed seven times for 45 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdowns came in the final half as Santa Margarita, ranked ninth in a poll of county sportswriters, remained undefeated (3-0) despite trailing, 8-7, at halftime.

“We talked about coming out [after halftime] and really picking it up,” Collins said. “We had the confidence, we just had to build on it.”

Collins’ play undoubtedly helped. However, the game’s biggest play, as Collins points out, had nothing to do with him.

That distinction belongs to running back/defensive back Billy Newman. It was Newman’s fourth-quarter interception of a pass by Oiler quarterback David Yadrick that gave Collins what quarterbacks want most: the ball.

“That was the break we needed,” Collins said. “The game was going back and forth, so we had to get a break to take control.

“Then we had to capitalize on in--and we did.”

The interception occurred shortly after the end of the third quarter, with Santa Margarita clinging to a 23-16 lead and Huntington Beach on the move again. Newman, who also rushed for a team-leading 94 yards in 13 carries, caught Yadrick’s errant pass at the 50 and banged into several would-be tacklers before stumbling to the ground at the Oilers’ 43-yard line.

Four plays later, Collins connected with receiver Matt Nickels on an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Jeff Zaist’s successful point-after gave Santa Margarita a 30-16 lead and put Huntington Beach (1-2) away. Oiler running back Jason Locklin hurt the Eagles throughout the night, gaining a game-high 155 yards in 19 carries and one touchdown.

“They were a really tough, physical team,” Collins said. “It was a great performance by our offensive line.”