Eagles 33 - Warren 6
Santa Margarita wins, 33-6. Eagles down Warren to remain undefeated
COSTA MESA, CA., November 9, 1990 – When Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan talks, Josh Ireland listens.
And, vice versa.
Sparked by Hartigan's halftime words, Ireland ignited Santa Margarita with two quick touchdowns in the third quarter as the Eagles beat Warren of Downey, 33-6, before an estimated crowd of 800 at Orange Coast College.
The victory sealed an undefeated regular season for Santa Margarita (10-0), which played a freelance schedule. Warren ends at 2-8.
Santa Margarita is ranked eighth in the county in its second season fielding a varsity team.
“Coach said at halftime that we were 10-0 as freshmen, and we want to be 10-0 for the seniors," Ireland said. "That was everybody's dream. The players' dream, the coaches' dream and our parents' dream. We couldn't let it slip away."
The Eagles held a 13-0 halftime edge but weren't sharp in the first half after Mike Farris scored from 1 yard out on their opening 10-play, 58-yard scoring drive.
Warren managed to keep the game within reach until David Shearer's 45-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half gave the Eagles a little breathing room.
"We just went back to basics," Hartigan said. "Our tailback said he wanted the ball, and when he says that, you give it to him."
Farris opened the second half with a 48-yard kickoff return for the Eagles, and Ireland scored in two plays from the 33, the touchdown run coming from 20 yards.
When the Eagles got the ball back after stopping Warren on four downs, Ireland went 48 yards in two carries for a touchdown, the scoring run from 12 yards.
Ireland finished with 158 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns, running his season total to 14.
“I wanted the ball," Ireland said. “I didn't run very well in the first half, and I haven't had a big game in a while."
The offensive line was motivated, too. “The holes were good, they were huge," Ireland said. “I could have driven my car through them."
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 33 |
| Warren | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
SM – Farris 1 run (Feeney kick)
SM – Shearer 45 interception return (kick failed)
SM – Ireland 20 run (Feeney kick)
SM – Ireland 12 run (pass failed)
SM – Yankoff 12 run (Feeney kick)
WAR – Parilla 27 run (kick failed)
By John Rezll
Friday, November 10, 1990
The Orange County Register - C9
