White Comes On Strong for Eagles

It took awhile for Ashton White to show up Friday, but once he did, it paid dividends for Santa Margarita.

White, who sat out the first half because he missed two practices earlier in the week because of what he called “walking pneumonia,” made three huge plays in the second half to lift Santa Margarita, No. 13 in The Times’ rankings, to a 21-14 nonleague victory over previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Los Angeles Loyola.

Loyola, No. 4 in The Times’ ranking and No. 21 in the AP National poll, dropped to 5-1, while Santa Margarita improved to 5-1-1.

White, a running back, converted a critical third-and-two conversion with a 20-yard run to keep alive the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, a drive he ended with a seven-yard touchdown run with 5:37 remaining.

Two plays later, White intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards, nearly assuring Santa Margarita a victory. But the Eagles still needed one more big play, and got it as Marshall Tharpe completed an inside screen to Bobby Whithorn on a fourth and five with 2:27 remaining. The play gained 10 yards. The two had combined on the same play in the first quarter for a 19-yard touchdown.

“I called it at the line,” said Tharpe, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, of 19 and 12 yards, the latter to Leif Nylander.

Loyola outgained Santa Margarita, 330-233, but the Eagles were more efficent, blocking a punt and not committing any turnovers. They took away two fumbles and had an interception.

“They like to run that nasty screen, and that killed us,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “And the blocked punt ate us up.”

Jeff Prenovost’s fumble recovery set up Santa Margarita’s first score, Tharpe’s 12-yard pass. Whithorne blocked a punt at the Loyola 45 to set up the second score two plays later, Tharpe’s 19-yarder to Whithorn, for a 14-7 lead.

White finished with 12 carries for 44 yards after Santa Margarita was limited to 25 yards rushing in the first half.

“This boosts our confidence big-time,” White said. “This shows us how good we really are, raises our confidence.”

Adam Gonzalez rushed 18 times for 47 yards and one touchdown and completed 15 of 19 for 152 yards with one interception for Loyola. Bo Renaud rushed 16 times for 102 yards and one touchdown, a 17-yarder, with 1:26 left in the third quarter to tie the score at 14-14.

Santa Margarita’s Johnny Walker broke his leg in the third quarter.