1992 EAGLES

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The 1992 Season marked the return of Eagles Football to participation in a league after a 3 year freelance schedule which mandated that they win at least 70% of their games. The Eagles found their place in the Sea View League finishing third and qualifying for the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year. The 1992 team finished the season 9-3 with the second best varsity record in school history behind the 12-1 record of the charter class.

11 Eagles Commit
Congratulations to QB Sean O'Brien (Arizona), WR Kevin Duffy (Princeton), LB Tim Sulick (Saddleback JC), OL Kevin Clark (Chapman), OL Thom Dickson (Chapman), DL Bert Coutts (Redlands), DB Ryan Zinn (Humboldt State), DB Ryan Cottonaro (Dixie State), LB Mike Gillissie (Northern Arizona), DL Tom Haupert (Western State Colorado), and OL Brent Noonan (Redlands) from the class of 1993 who have committed to play football at the next level.
All College Athletes

Orange County All-Star Game Sean O'Brien to play in the OC All-Star Game
QB/DB Sean O'Brien was chosen to play for the South Team in the annual Orange County All-Star Game. The game annually features the top 72 graduated football players in Orange County.
All-Star Eagles

Orange County Register 2 Eagles Named All-State
QB/DB Sean O'Brien was named Cal-Hi 2nd Team All-State (Multi-Purpose). WR/DB Brian Finneran was named Cal-Hi Underclassman Team All-State (Multi-Purpose).
All-State Eagles

Orange County Register 2 Eagles named All-County
WR Brian Finneran, and QB Sean O'Brien were named All-Orange County by the Orange County Register.
All-County Eagles

All-CIF 3 Eagles earn All-CIF
WR Brad Finneran, WR Brian Finneran, and QB Sean O'Brien were named to the Division IV All-CIF Team.
All-CIF Eagles

8 Eagles named All-Sea View League
OL Brent Noonan, WR Brad Finneran, WR Brian Finneran, QB Sean O'Brien, DB Kevin Duffy, and LB Chris Tiernan earned 1st Team All-Sea View League. OL Tom Dickson, and OL Tom Haupert were named 2nd Team.
All-League Eagles

Foothill 35 - Eagles 28
The Eagles were once again on the road in the second round of the playoffs as they traveled to Tustin to face the Foothill Knights, last-second winners over third-seeeded Riverside Poly the previous week. Santa Margarita fell short in the see-saw battle to lose for the first time in school history as the visitor in the playoffs.
Game Summary

O'Brien staying on plus side

Positive thinking helps Santa Margarita quarterback beat his biggest negative. Sean O'Brien likes to dim the lights in his bedroom, flop down on his bed, listen to classical music and just think. "Sometimes I just need to be alone to think things through," said O'Brien, Santa Margarita's senior quarterback. Before the season, O'Brien went into private meditation.
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Eagles 28 - Glendora 7

The Eagles went into the playoffs having a 3-0 record in the first round, and they had to travel to Citrus College to face Baseline League champion, Glendora. Sean O'Brien finished the game with 320 yards in the air and Tiernan had 125 yards rushing. Zinn, who had to carry the load on offense as well when Kevin Duffy went down early in the first quarter, finished with 6 receptions for 85 yards. The defense was led by Tiernan (7 tackles) and Brad Finneran's two interceptions.
Game Summary

Eagles 51 - Woodbridge 32
After a trying week of practice following the injury to junior Darren Wedertz in the Newport Harbor Junior Varsity game, the Eagles came out a little sluggish and somber. The Warriors (2-7-1, 1-5-1) jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead on two Shea Stone passes. The Eagles came storming back to tie the score after Chris Tiernan's 1-yard run and Kevin Duffy's 46-yard reception from Sean O'Brien.
Game Summary

Newport Harbor 27 - Eagles 16
Things went sour for the Eagle (7-2, 4-2) offense as five turnovers either killed drives or set up scores Newport Harbor (7-2, 4-2) in a Sea View League game to determine the second place place team for the playoffs.O'Brien threw 46 times for a school record, and the offense had over 400 yards in total offense. Brian Finneran had 10 catches for 138 yards, including a 19-yard reception in the first quarter.
Game Summary

Eagles 35 - Tustin 21

All season the game that players looked forward to was the match versus Tustin High, a team with tremendous talent and success in the past four years. The weather was not kind during the day and the field was more or less a mud pile, but that didn't slow down the Eagles' potent offense.
Game Summary

Eagles 20 - Saddleback 13

After a heart-breaking loss to Irvine the week before, it was a question as to how the Eagles (6-1, 3-1) would respond against a scrappy Saddleback team. The Homecoming crowd was given a show, but it was from the tremendous hail, rain and lightning that hit right at kickoff. Tiernan, O'Brien and Kevin Duffy combined for nearly 150 yards as the option game gave Santa Margarita the edge.
Game Summary

Irvine 40 - Eagles 34
Few games could ever top the one Santa Margarita and Irvine played in the midseason showdown between the two top teams in the Sea View League. Both teams displayed a tough defense, while showcasing top players on offense.
Game Summary
Eagles 49 - University 7

The passing game clicked as O'Brien connected on 12 of 15 passes for 159 yards and one score to Brad Finneran. Defensively, the Eagles were constantly in the University backfield putting pressure on the quarterback. The only score came late in the game against the reserves.
Game Summary

Santa Margarita's reception loud and clear

The tall, junior wide receiver at Santa Margarita High poses an obvious problem for defenses. He is 6-4 with good speed and great hands, a nightmare for any secondary. But the real problem doesn't begin when he slices through cornerbacks and safeties toward a reception. That could be answered with double and triple coverage. The real problem begins when his twin brother lines up as the opposite wideout. The rule book just doesn't provide for this much coverage.
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Eagles 35 - Corona del Mar 14

For months since it had been announced that Santa Margarita would join the Sea View League in 1992, everyone wondered how the team would fare in the new league. Three teams from the league were in the semifinals the previous year and Irvine, The Division II CIF champions, were also added. The Eagles would get a taste of the league in the opener as they faced undefeated Corona del Mar. It didn't take long, however, for Santa Margarita (4-0, 1-0) to prove it would be a force as they jumped all over the Sea Kings in the first half.
Game Summary

Steve Fryer - High Schools

It's a cliche to say an athlete "does it all," but it's an accurate description of Santa Margarita's Sean O'Brien. The 6-4, 215-pound senior is the starting quarterback, kicker and punter and starts at free or strong safety. He also has played linebacker this year. Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said he must find a way to get O'Brien off the field to rest. "He's been playing great on offense and defense for us, and he puts most of his kickoffs out of the end zone,” he said. “It's hard to replace a guy like that. We're working on replacing him on PATs, because sometimes he gets so tired his legs get wobbly."

Eagles 34 - Buena Park 3

The Eagles (3-0) tuned up for the Sea View League with 34-3 win over visiting Buena Park, but there were still a few wrinkles to iron out. The defense again turned in its third straight impressive performance, limiting the Coyotes (0-3) to second quarter field goal while giving up less than 200 total yards. Once again, O'Brien was the leading rusher for the Eagles with 12 carries for 83 yards. He threw for 153 yards and three scores, but was intercepted for the first time all season in 65 attempts. The Eagles outscored their opponents 103-9 in the preseason.
Game Summary

Eagles 29 - Notre Dame 0

For the second straight week the Eagles (2-0) dominated both sides of the ball in a 29-0 victory on the road against Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Mike Gillissie capped a 20-point first quarter with an interception return of 50 yards for a touchdown, as the defense recorded its only shutout of the year. The defense limited the Knights to 112 total yards total offense, and they raised their team interceptions to five.
Game Summary

Eagles 42 - St. John Bosco 6
Behind the passing of Sean O'Brien and a stingy defense, the Eagles dazzled the home fans with a convincing 42-6 win over the Division I St. John Bosco Braves.The Eagle offense accounted for nearly 500 yards. O'Brien added a third touchdown pass to Brian Finneran and finished the night 13-20 and 253 yards passing. The senior quarterback also rushed for 84 yards and added a score in the third quarter.
Game Summary