Eagles End Woodbridge Streak, Stay Undefeated

No mistakes. That was the task facing Woodbridge on Friday.

The unbeaten Warriors, playing for pride, credibility and--believe it or not--the Sea View League title--knew second-ranked Santa Margarita feasted on the misfortune of others.

It happened against Irvine. It happened against Newport Harbor. It happened against everybody, including Woodbridge.

Santa Margarita remained undefeated and clinched a share of its second consecutive league title with a hard-fought 40-7 victory over Woodbridge in front of 5,000 at Irvine High.

The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division V poll, improved to 9-0, 4-0 in league.

Woodbridge, which had gone 25 games without a victory coming into this season, dropped to 6-1-2, 2-1-1. The Warriors are ranked fourth in Division V.

“We got to this point and I told the kids we’re just going to play and going to have fun,” said Woodbridge Coach Rick Gibson, whose team rushed 20 times for 12 yards. “As coaches, you focus so much on the winning end of it, and sometimes you lose sight that it’s just a game.”

Woodbridge had plenty of fun and made a game of it in the first half, trailing only 13-7, but the mistakes Woodbridge couldn’t afford to make hurt them all night long.

In the first half, a high snap on a punt was bobbled by Shane Harris, and Santa Margarita’s Mike O’Gorman tackled Harris for a 19-yard loss. On the next play, Bryant Wolfsberger (24 carries, 208 yards) ran in from 25 yards.

A personal foul at the end of Wolfsberger’s 28-yard run set up the next score, a seven-yard pass from Palmer to Minardi. Although Nick Sparks’ point-after was blocked, the Eagles had taken away momentum from the obviously inspired Warriors.

Santa Margarita missed a chance at putting Woodbridge away before halftime. The Eagles recovered an onside kick at the Woodbridge 43. From the 14, Wolfsberger appeared headed into the end zone, but his fumble at the two-yard-line went out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

It was a huge mistake, because Woodbridge showed some life and made it a game--until Santa Margarita righted itself.

A 15-yard personal foul at the end of a 38-yard pass play from Barlow to Harris did most of the damage, and after a pass interference penalty, Anthony Valanos scored on a fade from Barlow. Steve Terwiske’s point-after made it 13-7 and suddenly, Woodbridge looked for real at the half.

But there were more Woodbridge mistakes in the second half.

A dropped pass and 27-yard punt gave Santa Margarita the ball at the 30 and Wolfsberger scored from 22 yards.

Wolfsberger’s third scoring run, 13 yards, was set up by a Woodbridge fumble at the end of a 29-yard pass play.

Matt Brooks’ interception set up Spencer McCroskey’s 19-yard scoring run with 40 seconds left.

Despite Woodbridge’s mistakes, Santa Margarita was hardly perfect. Palmer (12 for 20, 158 yards, one TD) threw an interception (to Justin Valentine), ending his school record of 177 passes without an interception, and the Eagles committed 14 penalties for 134 yards--including six pass interference penalties. Palmer also rushed 16 yards for a score.