High School Roundup: Sage drops league opener

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Sage Hill School opened Academy League play at defending league champion St. Margaret’s on Friday. The result turned out like every other football game between these two rivals.

Sage Hill lost, 48-7, giving it a 0-12 record against St. Margaret’s.

The Lightning (3-4, 0-1 in league) managed to score in the fourth quarter against the Tartans (6-0, 1-0), ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section East Valley Division poll, to avoid being shut out for the first time this season. Quarterback C.J. McCord threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vince Whetmore with 4:43 left in the game.

McCord, a junior, completed 14 of 30 passes for 81 yards. Whetmore, a junior, hauled in nine of those passes for 44 yards.

St. Margaret’s jumped out to a 27-0 lead at halftime. The Tartan went on to win their 28th consecutive league game, the third longest winning streak in Orange County history, behind Orange Lutheran’s 37-game streak from 1997-2005 and Mission Viejo’s 36-game streak from 2000-2007.

McCord and junior running back Beau Roth combined to rush for 51 yards on 19 carries for Sage Hill.

The Lightning return to league action next week when Brethren Christian visits Sage Hill. Brethren Christian won its league opener against Downey Calvary Chapel, 55-0, on Friday, giving the school its fourth straight victory since opening the season with a loss.

Sage Hill looks to beat Brethren Christian for the first time in three years.

*

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Newport Rib Company Classic

Host Costa Mesa finished fourth in the “Chicken and Brisket” flight on Saturday. The Mustangs defeated Tustin, 9-4, and Brea Olinda, 9-6.

Raymond Andrade led Mesa (10-5) with three goals against Tustin, while Quinn Smith and Matt Brown had two each. James Rydjeski made 10 saves.

Smith had four goals in the win against Brea Olinda, while Andrade and Brown scored twice each and Sagang Wee also scored.

Sage Hill defeated Valley, 9-5, and Downey, 11-10, in its two tournament games on Saturday.

Edison won the “Rib and Tri-Tip” flight, while Trabuco Hills captured the “Chicken and Brisket” flight.