Eagles 35 - San Luis Obsipo 27
Eagles sparked by Ireland's 311 yards
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA., November 8, 1991 – Josh Ireland of Santa Margarita had one of the top 10 rushing performances in Orange County history Friday night, gaining 311 yards in a 35-27 non-league victory over San Luis Obispo.
Ireland, a senior, carried 26 times, including four for touchdowns. His 311 yards are the ninth-best single-game total in county history. Dana Hills' Jim Gleed holds the single-game record with a 418-yard performance in 1979. Ireland also moved into fifth place in career rushing on the county list with 3,835 yards.
Ireland's performance offset a strong rushing night by San Luis Obispo's David DeLang, who carried the ball 25 times for 205 yards and one touchdown.
Together, the teams gained 857 yards in total offense: 437 by Santa Margarita and 420 by San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo (5-4) scored first on a 59-yard pass from Nate Eklund to Dustin McGary. Eklund finished the game 10 of 14 for 151 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Ireland tied the score with his first touchdown, a 6-yard run. With the score tied, 21-21, Ireland put the Eagles (5-3-1) ahead for good on a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Eklund pulled the Tigers within one point, 28-27, with a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. However, San Luis Obispo missed the extra point and Ireland gave the Eagles some breathing room with his 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Santa Margarita quarterback Sean O'Brien completed 5 of 10 passes for 80 yards.
Brian Finneran caught three passes for 55 yards; Brad Finneran caught two for 25 yards.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| San Luis Obispo | 7 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 27 |
SLO – McGary 59 pass from Eklund (McGary kick)
SM – Ireland 6 run (O'Brien kick)
SLO – Quarles 48 run (McGary kick)
SLO – DeLang 13 run (McGary kick)
SM – Ireland 51 run (Watts kick)
SM – Zalta 20 run (O'Brien kick)
SM – Ireland 30 run (O'Brien kick)
SLO – Eklund 1 run (kick failed)
SM – Ireland 1 run (O'Brien kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Ireland 26-311, Villanueva 7-26; SLO - DeLang 25-205
Passing: SM - O'Brien 5-10-1-80; SLO - Eklund, 10-14-1-151
Receiving: SM - Brian Finneran 3-55, Brad Finneran 2-25; SLO - McGary 3-82
The Register Staff
Saturday, November 9, 1991
The Orange County Register - D4
