Irvine 40 - Eagles 34
Eagles Fall Short in Offensive Battle
IRVINE, CA., October 16, 1992 – 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.
The defense, however, never had a chance to breathe as the scoreboard was lit up early and often.
The Vaqueros (5-1, 3-0) were led by Scott Seal's five touchdowns in a wild 40-34 game.
The Eagles countered with the passing of Sean O'Brien and the receiving of Brad and Brian Finneran to make this one of the most exciting games in Eagle history. Kevin Duffy's 5-yard run on the opening drive gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead, but Seal tied the score on a 1-yard run in the next series.
The Eagles came back when O'Brien hit Brad Finneran from 13-yards out to put SM back on top. But Seal responded with a 34-yard run to tie the score again. Chris Tiernan gave the Eagles the lead again 20-14, but Seal scored twice before the half to give the Vaqueros a 27-20 edge.
With less than a minute remaining in the half, O'Brien led SM's two-minute offense downfield and hit Brad Finneran on a 26-yard pass to tie the score.
Irvine used a ball-control offense to slow things down, and the two teams matched scores in the third quarter.
After Irvine took a 40-34 lead late in the game, the Eagles last march fell short at midfield.
| Irvine | 7 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 40 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
SM – Duffy 5 run (Korinke kick)
IRV – Seal 1 run (Bilek kick)
SM – Brad Finneran 13 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
IRV– Seal 1 run (Bilek kick)
SM – Tiernan 1 run (pass failed)
IRV– Seal 2 run (Bilek kick)
IRV– Seal 9 run (kick failed)
SM – Brad Finneran 26 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
IRV– Seal 4 pass from Garcia (Bilek kick)
SM – Brad Finneran 23 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
IRV– Mathis 6 pass from Garcia (kick blocked)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: O'Brien 10-29, Tiernan 10-26, Duffy 6-33
Passing: O'Brien 24-30-0, 263, .800%, 3 TD
Receiving: Brad Finneran 10-133, Brian Finneran 8-69
Defense: Tiernan 11 tackles, 1 sack; Gillessie 11 tackles; Winkelmann
7 tackles, 1 sack
Offense abounds in Irvine victory - Running back Seal scores five times
IRVINE – The Los Alamitos-Esperanza game in two weeks has been forecast as The Game of the Year. But it will have to be The Game of the Decade to beat Friday night's Santa Margarita-Irvine game.
Irvine won an incredible offensive show, 40-34, in a battle of Sea View League favorites before an overflow crowd at Irvine High's 3,500-capacity stadium.
Irvine running back Scott Seal rushed for 183 yards on 33 carries, ran for four touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass. Irvine quarterback Aron Garcia completed 11 of 15 passes for 119 yards.
Santa Margarita quarterback Sean O'Brien completed 23 of 29 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, all to Brad Finneran, who had nine receptions for 125 yards. Twin brother Brian Finneran caught nine for 85 yards.
The game had only two turnovers _ on the same play _ and one punt.
Irvine (5-1 overall, 3-0 in league) moved into sole possession of first place, with a one-game lead over Santa Margarita (5-1, 2-1), Newport Harbor and Saddleback.
Vaqueros coach Terry Henigan said it is too early to think the league championship is secure.
"We have four more league games left," he said. "Anyone who saw Newport Harbor last night (a 10-0 winner over Tustin) knows what I'm talking about."
With both offenses flourishing, the outcome would be determined by the team that could make the biggest defensive play.
Irvine did.
After the Vaqueros took a 40-34 lead with 6:35 left in the game, the Eagles started from their 23.
O'Brien hit Brian Finneran for completions of two and seven yards, and Brad Finneran for 18 yards to push the Eagles to midfield. An incompletion set up a third-and-three. O'Brien dropped back to pass, rolled to his left but was chased down by Kyle Roberts and Chris Agotsch for a seven-yard loss.
By Steve Fryer
Saturday, October 17, 1992
The Orange County Register - D1
Orange County Football Top Ten
1. Esperanza..............6-0
2. Los Alamitos...........6-0
3. Rancho Alamitos........5-1
4. Servite................5-0-1
5. Irvine.................5-1
6. Trabuco Hills..........6-0
7. Mater Dei..............5-0-1
8. Santa Margarita........5-1
9. El Dorado..............6-0
10. Sunny Hills...........5-1
