Eagles 19 - Newport Harbor 0
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 12, 1993 – In the biggest game of the year for both teams, the Eagles saved their best for last against Newport Harbor
The Eagles started quickly on both sides of the ball and went on to post a 19-0 win to clinch the third spot in the Sea View League.
Offensively, Derek Yankoff rushed for 93 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. He threw for 275 yards and two scores of 56 and 60 yards to Brian Finneran.
Finneran finished with seven receptions and 142 yards, while Chris Collins ran for an additional 85 yards.
The defense was just as sound from the opening kickoff. Nose guard Rik Glover rattled the Sailor center early, forcing numerous fumbled snaps. Newport never seemed to come back from that. SM held all-CIF runner Wade Tift to 51 yards on 13 carries behind the play of Glover, Matt Lucas, Joe Hauke, Robert Craven and Josh Beckett.
"To this point, this was a perfect game for us. Definitely a perfect game." Coach Jim Hartigan said. "We didn't get physically dominated like last year. Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of performance. Our defense was great."
The win gave the Eagles an 8-2 overall record and 5-2 in league. They tied Corona del Mar for second, but the earlier loss to the Sea Kings put SM in third. For the fifth straight year the Eagles advanced to the CIF Playoffs.
| Santa Margarita | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| Newport Harbor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SM – Yankoff 4 run (Kornike kick)
SM – Brian Finneran 56 yard pass from Yankoff (pass failed)
SM – Brian Finneran 60 yard pass from Yankoff (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Yankoff 11-93, Collins 18-85
Passing: Yankoff 15-28-0, 275, .535%, 2TD
Receiving: Brian Finneran 7-142, Brad Finneran 4-47
Defense: Brian Finneran 9 Tackles, Glover 9 tackles, 1 sack, Younce 8 tackles, Lucas 8 tackles
Santa Margarita nearly flawless in 19-0 victory
MISSION VIEJO – For years, Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan has been waiting to see that perfect game, where both the offense and defense click for four quarters.
On Friday, when the Eagles needed it most, he finally saw it.
The defense limited Newport Harbor running back Wayne Tift to 51 yards while the offense racked up 454 total yards for a 19-0 Sea View League victory before an estimated crowd of 4,500 at Saddleback College. Santa Margarita (8-2, 5-2) finished third and is guaranteed a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs which begin next Friday. Newport Harbor (7-3, 4-3) must hope for an at-large berth.
"To this point, this was a perfect game for us. Definitely a perfect game," Hartigan said. "We didn't get physically dominated like last year (a 27-16 loss to the Sailors). Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of performance. Our defense was great."
The Eagles have been allowing an average of 16 points a game but earned their second shutout by rotating their front four linemen and confusing the Sailors.
Tift, who entered the game averaging 5.2 yards per carry, was held to two or fewer yards on nine of his 14 carries. Quarterback Ryan Smith fumbled the snap six times in the first half, lost 22 yards and was sacked twice.
The first sack by Matt Lucas came at the end of the first half. He threw Smith for a 5-yard loss on fourth down and the Sailors at the Eagles 31, their deepest penetration of the game.
"The defensive line did a real good job," said Lucas, who had plenty of help from Joe Hauke, Rik Glover, Robert Craven and Josh Beckett. "We were really worried about Tift before the game but we just shut him down."
Sailors coach Jeff Brinkley said Santa Margarita was better prepared.
"We played like we practiced all week _ terrible," he said. "They did a good job preparing for us on defense. Now it's up to CIF if we get in."
Offensively, Santa Margarita was able to use the pass to set up the running of Chad Collins (81 yards) and quarterback Derek Yankoff (90 yards).
Yankoff completed 10 of his 15 passes for 180 of his 280 yards in the first half. Brian Finneran scored two touchdowns of 56 and 60 yards on nearly identical catch and runs.
Finneran finished with seven catches for 146 yards while brother Brad had three receptions for 43 yards.
Yankoff also scored the other touchdown on a 4-yard run to open the scoring in a 13-point first quarter.
By Michael Casey
Saturday, November 13, 1993
The Orange County Register - D16
