Eagles 28 - Elsinore 0
Ireland, Finnerans lead Eagles
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 16, 1991 – CIF playoff hopeful Santa Margarita (7-3) rolled to a 28-0 victory over visiting Elsinore on Saturday night at Saddleback College, thanks to a balanced offense, a 21-point second quarter and a gritty defense.
Eagles running back Josh Ireland broke loose for a 44-yard scamper early in the second quarter to open the scoring, then, on successive possessions, Santa Margarita quarterback Sean O'Brien lofted touchdown passes to Brad Finneran (41 yards) and Brian Finneran (14).
Ireland's 1-yard plunge capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive (28-0) early in the third quarter, highlighted by running back Anton Villanueva's 28-yard scamper.
The victory was the Eagles' sixth in their past seven games, a skein that included an upset of then undefeated Servite, a perennial Division I power. The non-league team hopes it's good enough to earn an at-large CIF berth.
"I'm nervous about it,” Eagles coach Jim Hartigan said. "Based on our record, especially of late, I think we deserve to go. I'd prefer Division V or VI, but you never know."
A playoff team the past two years, Santa Margarita (7-3), jumped from Division IX in 1989 to Division IV in 1990. In '89 the Eagles were quarterfinalists, losing to eventual Division IX champ Carpinteria by a touchdown. Last year the Eagles made it to the semifinals of Division IV before losing to Baldwin Park.
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Elsinore | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SM – Ireland 44 run (Watt kick)
SM – Brad Finneran 41 pass from O'Brien (Watt kick)
SM – Brian Finneran 14 pass from O'Brien (Watt kick)
SM – Ireland 1 run (Watt kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Ireland 20-100, Villanueva 8-55; E - Ramirez 12-76, Norland 11-27
Passing: SM - O'Brien 7-11-0-113; E - Norland 2-8 1-17, Morrow 2-7-1-13
Receiving: SM - Brad Finneran 2-58, Brian Finneran 3-30; E - Ramirez 3-24. Hunt 1-6
By Murray Quirk
Sunday, November 17, 1991
The Orange County Register - C16
