Valley Christian 21 - Eagles 19
Eagles fall short as FG attempt blocked
WHITTIER, CA., October 4, 1991 – Despite missing its main offensive threat, Santa Margarita almost rallied successfully in the final 1:16 Friday night against host Valley Christian.
But the Crusaders' Jake Wiersma blocked Sean O'Brien's potential game-winning field goal with four seconds left to ensure a 21-19 victory.
Josh Ireland, the Eagles' all-time leading rusher, did not dress for the game because of contusions on his right thigh. Nevertheless, Santa Margarita (1-3) nearly overcame a nine point deficit in the final quarter.
Valley (2-2), ranked eighth in CIF Division IX, had a 21-12 lead when O'Brien threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brian Finneran with 1:16 to play. Then on Valley's ensuing series, the Eagles' Bert Coutts recovered a fumble at his 48-yard line with 47 seconds remaining.
Santa Margarita advanced to the Crusaders' 21, where O'Brien attempted a 38-yard field goal with nine seconds to play. But Wiersma broke through the middle of the line to block the kick.
Missed conversions proved critical for the Eagles. Wiersma blocked O'Brien's conversion kick in the first quarter, and O'Brien fumbled during an attempted conversion run in the third quarter.
| Valley Christian | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Santa Margarita | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
SM – Pavlovich 4 run (kick blocked)
VC – Peters 1 run (Abbott kick)
VC – Plante 1 run (Abbott kick)
SM – Pavlovich 5 run (run failed)
VC – Peters 8 run (Abbott kick)
SM – Brian Finneran 11 pass from O'Brien (O'Brien kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Villanueva 9-60, O'Brien 16-53; VC - Peters 40-182, Plante 7-28
Passing: SM - O'Brien 16-27-0-151; VC - Carison 1-4-0-6
Receiving: SM - Brian Finneran 10-106, Wilson 2-20; VC - Kroeze 1-6
By Joseph D'Hippolito
Saturday, October 5, 1991
The Orange County Register - D8
