Santa Margarita Seizes the Sea View League Lead

Hard to believe, but for a team that has won 71.3% of its games over the course of its eight-year existence, today is the first full day Santa Margarita has ever been alone in first place.

The Eagles, ranked sixth in Orange County, seized the Sea View League by the throat with its 17-0 victory over ninth-ranked Irvine Saturday in front of a capacity crowd of 3,500 at Irvine High.

After beginning the season ranked behind Sea View opponents Irvine and El Toro, Santa Margarita (6-1, 2-0 in league) is in perfect position to win its first league title.

“We knew, basically, this was for the league championship,” said Santa Margarita running back Billy Newman, who was held under 200 yards for the first time in three games (24 carries for 138 yards). “We’re sitting pretty.”

The Eagles already have beaten two league powers, Irvine (4-3, 1-1) and Newport Harbor (6-1, 1-1). They still have to face El Toro, but can clinch a playoff berth next week with a victory over winless Woodbridge.

“It put them into the driver’s seat,” Irvine Coach Terry Henigan said. “It was a very important game.”

It was also very physical. The Vaquero defense gave Newman a separated shoulder late in the fourth quarter, but he was fine by game’s end.

Santa Margarita’s defense was fine throughout. It limited Irvine to 18 yards rushing in 27 carries. Though Irvine quarterback Jared Flint completed 11 of 13 passes, it was for a mere 68 yards.

Irvine’s biggest play was a halfback pass while trailing, 10-0. Jake Savona’s 48-yard pass to Ryan Brucker late in the third quarter gave the Vaqueros possession at the five-yard line. From the one, Al Williams’ apparent touchdown was nullified by an illegal procedure penalty. On the next play, Savona mishandled Flint’s pitch in the backfield and Santa Margarita recovered the ball.

The Eagles marched 89 yards in 17 plays to ice the game as Minna scored from the five.

Santa Margarita scored first on Nick Sparks’ 22-yard field goal after Irvine made a strong defensive stand in the first quarter.

The Eagles made it 10-0 by halftime as Carson Palmer, sprung bu Shaun Jackson’s block, ran 48 yards on a quarterback draw.

In Academy League eight-man:

Cal Lutheran 53, Liberty Christian 8 (mercy)--Cal Lutheran scored 53 consecutive points before Liberty Christian scored on a 24-yard touchdown pass by Jon Stephens. The game was called at the half due to the mercy rule.

Heritage Christian 54, Price Christian 38--Jared Zielinski rushed for 145 yards and touchdowns of one, eight and 23 yards in the league victory for Heritage Christian (5-1, 2-1). Zielinski scored the first touchdown on a 73-yard kickoff return. Teammate Jason Burns rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns.