Santa Margarita Backs Rix in Upset

Santa Margarita quarterback Chris Rix played last season at La Puente Bishop Amat, but it seemed as if his teammates this year were as obsessive about winning as he was when it came to facing his old school.

Santa Margarita, which had fallen out of Orange County’s top 10, scored a ratings knockout Friday night with a 35-26 victory over Bishop Amat at Saddleback College.

“I wanted it bad,” said Rix, “but [my teammates] wanted it just as bad.”

Bishop Amat (5-1) is ranked No. 1 in Southern Section Division I and No. 2 in the state. Santa Margarita, which picked up a forfeit victory this week, is also 5-1.

“Chris was very emotional all week and didn’t want to do anything but win,” running back Jimmy Herzog said. “We stepped up to our potential. We wanted to win it for him, but also wanted to win it for ourselves.”

Herzog rushed 26 times for 117 yards and three touchdowns, and Rix completed eight of 12 passes for 146 yards. Rix also rushed 13 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Donnie McCleskey rushed 29 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns for Bishop Amat. The Lancers gained 414 yards--all rushing.

McCleskey’s final carry was a fumble at the Eagles’ 22, which was recovered by Matt Vogel with 1:40 left.

Sophomore Curtis Cooper, recently called up from Santa Margarita’s junior varsity, kicked a 32-yard field goal, forcing the Lancers to score twice in the final 4:15.

“That was gigantic,” said Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan, who called the result the biggest non-title victory in school history.

“He can tell you whatever he wants,” Hartigan said of Rix downplaying any revenge angle this week. “It’s important to him. He’s jacked up. He was more vocal than in the past.”

Santa Margarita became the first county team to defeat Bishop Amat since Mater Dei in 1994; at that time, the Lancers were ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The matchup featured two of the top three winningest programs in the state; Bishop Amat’s .773 winning percentage is second only to Concord De La Salle (.822) and just ahead of Santa Margarita (.764), which is moving up to Division I competition this season.

Santa Margarita punter Matt Vogel pinned Bishop Amat inside its own five yard-line twice in the first half, setting up short Eagle scoring drives of 58 and 28 yards.

Santa Margarita led, 14-6, until just before the half when Bishop Amat pulled within two points by driving 81 yards--all on runs McCleskey--in the final three minutes of the half. McCleskey scored from 12 yards, but the two-point conversion failed when the ball was fumbled.