Eagles 21 - Tustin 16
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 5, 1993 – For the second straight week the Eagles had a big first half, but against Tustin they barely had enough to survive.
After taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdowns by Chris Collins and Brad Finneran, the Eagles allowed Tustin to get back in the game.
The Tillers scored on a long pass play to cut the lead to 14-6, but the Eagles reponded before the half.
Derek Yankoff hit Ruben Vaughn on a five-yard pass near the end of the half to give the Eagles a 21-6 lead.
Unfortunately, the offense again was unable to put any points on the board after the break.
Defensively, the Eagles played well, but were asked to shut down the Tillers option attack.
Tustin cut the margin to 21-13 on Jon Lauderdale's 4-yard run in the third quarter.
They added a field goal in the fourth quarter to pull within five points, and suddenly the game and the season were in danger for the Eagles.
With only eight seconds left in the game, Brain Finneran deflected a pass in the back of the end zone to keep the playoff hopes alive.
Offensively, Chris Collins had 154 yards on 21 carries to spark the Eagles. SM had 11 first downs in the first half and could only manage one after that.
The win set up a showdown with Newport Harbor in the final week of league play.
The winner would earn an automatic playoff spot as the third place team, while the loser would have to wait and hope for a wild card spot.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Tustin | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
SM – Collins 9 run (Korinke kick)
SM – Brad Finneran 26 pass from Yankoff (Korinke kick)
TUS – Holloway 64 pass from Wilson (kick failed)
SM – Vaughn 5 pass from Yankoff (Korinke kick)
TUS – Lauderdale 2 run (Mathews kick)
TUS – Mathews 23 FG
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Collins 21-154, Yankoff 6-34
Passing: Yankoff 6-16-1, 69, .375%, 2 TD
Receiving: Brad Finneran 3-53, Brian Finneran 1-14
Defense: Brian Finneran 14 tackles; Glover 11 tackles; Vaughn 7 tackles,
1 int; Younce 8 tackles, 1 int; Brad Finneran 10 tackles.
Matt Younce had his first interception of the year as well as 8 tackles.
Finneran saves day for Eagles
MISSION VIEJO – Brian Finneran saved Santa Margarita with a deflection instead of a reception Friday night during the Eagles' 21-16 victory over Tustin in a Sea View League game at Saddleback College.
Finneran, one of the county's leading receivers with 41 catches, made the decisive play, deflecting the ball from Tustin's Lamarr Barrett in the end zone with eight seconds remaining to turn back Tustin's upset bid.
The victory sets up a potential showdown for second place in the Sea View League next week between Santa Margarita (7-2, 4-2) and Newport Harbor (6-2, 3-2). Newport plays Woodbridge tonight.
Tustin (3-6, 1-5) closes its season next week against
Woodbridge.
Tustin, which has struggled in league play, almost dealt Santa Margarita's CIF playoff hopes a serious blow, coming back from a 21-6 halftime deficit to within inches of winning.
Santa Margarita used its running game to control the first half. Running back Chris Collins had 128 yards in 16 carries in the half, scoring one touchdown and helping set up another.
The Tillers, however, found a way to stop him in the second half: They never let him get the ball.
Tustin went to ball control with a vengeance, going 78 yards on a 14-play drive that took 8:47 on the first series and scoring on Jon Lauderdale's 2-yard run.
Santa Margarita ran five plays on the next series before punting. Tustin then mounted a 12-drive play that took up 5:36 and reached Santa Margarita's 3 before stalling, setting up Zach Matthew's 23-yard field goal.
The Eagles again failed to move the ball, punting after three plays.
The Tillers drove to Santa Margarita's 16 with 17 seconds left. On fourth down, Barrett got open in the end zone momentarily, but Finneran was able to recover and tip quarterback Brandon Wilson's pass away.
Matthews' field goal was the 24th of his three-year career, tying him for fourth on the county career list.
By David Osterman
Saturday, November 6, 1993
The Orange County Register - D16
