Eagles 35 - Tustin 21
Duffy, O'Brien Combine to Down Tillers in Mud
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 30, 1992 – 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 Tillers came into the game with a 3-4 overall record, but were still in the playoff race in the Sea View League.
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.
As was characteristic all season, the offense jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first lead in the first quarter on two Sean O'Brien passes. Kevin Duffy received the first on an O'Brien pass over the middle and raced 44 yards for the score.
On the next drive Brad Finneran was open in the end zone for a 12-yard score. Chris Tiernan's fumble recovery set up the touchdown.
Tustin came back and scored on a 1-yard run by Chris Collins, but the Eagles responded in huge fashion.
On the kickoff Duffy took a reverse from Derek Yankoff and went 85 yards for the score. The Eagles (7-1, 4-1) were not through with their gutsy play calling as Coach Jim Hartigan went for the onside kick.
Kevin Breen recovered for the Eagles and six plays later O'Brien went in from the one to put SM on top, 28-7, at the half.
The Tillers kept the pressure on scoring on the first play of the second half and later in the fourth quarter to cut the gap to seven. But O'Brien, who completed 22 of 26 passes for 334 yards, found Brian Finneran open and the junior took it in 24 yards for the final score.
"Let's just say it was fun out there tonight," O'Brien said of the game and sloppy field conditions.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
| Tustin | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
SM – Duffy 44 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
SM – Brad Finneran 12 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
TUS – Collins 1 run (Mathews kick)
SM – Duffy 85 kickoff return (Korinke kick)
SM – O'Brien 1 run (Korinke kick)
TUS – Barrett 73 run (Mathews kick)
TUS – Reynolds 23 run (Mathews kick)
SM – Brian Finneran 24 pass from O'Brien (Korinke kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: O'Brien 16-17, Tiernan 6-20
Passing: O'Brien 22-26-0, 334, .846%, 3 TD
Receiving: Brian Finneran 11-166, Bd. Finneran 4-42, Duffy 3-115
Defense: Tiernan 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR; Breen 14 tackles, 1 FR
Santa Margarita handles Tustin - Offense elemental in sweep to victory
MISSION VIEJO – Rain, mud and the Santa Margarita offense didn't mix well in the Eagles' 20-13 victory over Saddleback High last week.
"Mother Nature was the only defense that stopped us last week," Santa Margarita quarterback Sean O'Brien said.
The same elements and Tustin High had no such luck against the Eagles on Friday night. Santa Margarita rolled to a 21-point halftime lead and held off the Tillers, 35-21, in a Sea View League game at Northrup Field. Santa Margarita, No. 7 in Orange County, moved closer to a playoff berth at 4-1 in league, 7-1 overall. The Tillers are clinging to the edge of the playoff race at 2-3, 3-5. O'Brien didn't let the rain bother him; he completed 21 of 25 passes for a season-high 337 yards and three touchdowns. He connected on 14 consecutive passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns at one point.
Wide receiver Brian Finneran caught 12 passes for 162 yards, including a game-clinching 24-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Tustin closed to 28-21 on a 23-yard run by Jason Reynolds with 9:05 left in the game. But the Eagles turned around and marched 69 yards in 11 plays, capped by Finneran's touchdown catch with 4:14 to go. Santa Margarita had broken the game open in the second quarter after freshman quarterback Chris Collins scored on a 1-yard sneak to cut Tustin's deficit to 14-7.
On the following kickoff, Kevin Duffy took a reverse handoff from Trevor Yankoff and beat two Tillers around the corner for an 85-yard touchdown return and a 21-7 Eagle lead with 4:43 left. Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan then called on onside kick, which the Eagles' Kevin Breen recovered at the Tustin 38.
O'Brien then finished a six-play drive on a 1-yard dive with 2:27 to go for a 28-7 lead.
On the defense: Dusan Anchich and Brian Rios each had two sacks for Tustin. Santa Margarita's Chris Tiernan recovered a Tustin fumble at the Eagle 20 to set up Santa Margarita's second touchdown.
Noteworthy: Tustin's Lamar Barrett rushed for a game-high 128 yards on 17 carries, including a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half.
By Writer
Saturday, October 31, 1992
The Orange County Register - D15
Orange County Football Top Ten
1. Los Alamitos.......................8-0
2. Rancho Alamitos....................7-1
3. Esperanza..........................7-1
4. Servite............................7-0-1
5. Irvine.............................7-1
6. Santa Margarita....................7-1
7. Sunny Hills........................7-1
8. Trabuco Hills......................7-1
9. Mater Dei..........................6-1-1
10. El Dorado.........................7-1
