Santa Margarita Breezes Past Alemany

He started the game by fumbling the kickoff, but that was the only trouble Tyler Thompson had in Santa Margarita’s 31-10 nonleague victory over Mission Hills Alemany Friday at Saddleback College.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior recovered the ball and ran it back 53 yards, then carried the ball five more times on the ensuing drive, eventually scoring on a one-yard run. His performance foreshadowed things to come, as Thompson ran for 213 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries, almost of all of it in the first half.

Thompson carried most of the load because backfield mate Ashton White was watching the game from the sidelines. Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan kept White out of practice and the game in anticipation of next week’s Serra League opener.

“We talked to Tyler about establishing the running game and he knew he’d be carrying most of the load,” Hartigan said. “We were going to give him the opportunity to step up and he did. The offensive line did a good job and he took advantage of it.”

Thompson carried 18 times for 211 yards as Santa Margarita (5-2) opened up a 31-7 halftime lead. Hartigan played his reserves most of the second half.

Quarterback Matt Dlugolecki completed eight of 14 passes for 106 yards, and Thomas Cappelletti caught four passes for 57 yards.

Thompson scored again from eight yards out with 1 minute 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Santa Margarita added another touchdown on Dlugolecki’s 11-yard pass to Johnnie Walker. Dlugolecki hit Cappelletti with a 29-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter.

Jeff Ferrier capped off the scoring with a 35-yard field goal to end the first half.

Alemany is 2-5.