Santa Margarita Rebounds, Pounds Tritons

Santa Margarita has never lost three games in a row, and the Eagles were not about to let Friday be a record-setting night.

After sub-par performances the previous two weeks, the Eagles proved to be ready with a convincing, 43-7 victory over San Clemente in a nonleague game at Saddleback College.

The Eagles (2-2) steamrollered the Tritons on both sides of the ball.

“Our motivation factor was to get back on track,” Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan said. “A lot of frustration had worked up. The kids were ready. Hopefully, we can get out of [nonleague play] 3-2.”

Jimmy Herzog led the Eagles with 146 yards (142 in the first half) and two touchdowns in 18 carries. Eagle quarterback Chris Rix, noted mostly for his arm, scored on runs of 40 and 52 yards. He finished with 93 yards in seven carries.

James Allen carried the bulk of the offensive load for the Tritons (2-2), rushing 22 times for 132 yards.

After Eagle linebacker Matt Szkalak picked off his first of two interceptions on the night in the first quarter, the Eagles got on the board on a four-yard touchdown run by Herzog.

They took a 23-0 second-quarter lead on a two-yard run by Tyler Thompson, a 24-yard field goal by David Doomey and a sack-avoiding scramble by Rix that turned into a 40-yard touchdown dash.

The Tritons scored when quarterback Dan Coviello sneaked in from one yard in the fourth quarter.

Eagle freshman Ashton White was impressive in his debut, rushing for 71 yards in six carries, including a 40-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.