Western 25 - Eagles 10
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 24, 1995 – Western High School continued its dream season with a 25-10 second round victory over SM to remain undefeated in its quest for a CIF title. The second half did in the Eagles as the Pioneers scored 19 unanswered points for the win. Senior Mike Mueller was a big reason. He scored early on a 56-yard run and returned a punt 42 yards to set up the go-ahead score. He also had a kickoff of 60 yards and finished the night with 83 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Eagles only score was on a double pass. Chris Collins threw to Craig Harrison who found Matt Nickels open for a 76-yard touchdown. The Eagle had over 400 yards in offense, but four turnovers was the difference.
| Western | 0 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
WES – Mueller 56 run (kick failed)
SM – Nickels 78 pass from Harrison (Zaist kick)
SM – FG Zaist 21
WES – Bell 13 pass from Chambers (pass failed)
WES – Mueller 23 pass from Chambers (kick failed)
WES – Casillas 21 pass from Bell (Bell kick)
OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Rushing: Collins 10-42, Newman 9-33
Passing: Collins 12-27-2-165
Receiving: Nickels 3-114, Brown 4-50
Scoring: Nickels 1TD, Zaist 1 FG, 1 PAT
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Tackles: Baier 5, Thigpen 4, Nickels 4, Long 3
Asst. Tackles: Grzecka 5, Nickels 3, Pichler 3
Other: Baier 1 rec. Fumble, Berg 1.5 sacks, Minna 0.5 sacks
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Western rebounds in the second half, tops Santa Margarita
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 24, 1995 – Western added yet another chapter to its storybook season Friday night as it rallied in the second half to defeat Santa Margarita, 25-10, in a CIF Southern Section, Division V, second-round game.
In impressive fashion before 5,000 fans at Saddleback College, the Pioneers overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit to outscore the Eagles 18-0.
Second-seeded Western (12-0), the Orange League champion, plays Sea View League champion and fourth-seeded El Toro in the semifinals next Saturday. Santa Margarita, the third-place team from the Sea View League, finishes at 8-4.
"It's like I've been saying about this group all year, they find a way,” said Western coach Jim Howell, whose squad remained Orange County's unbeaten team. “They believe in themselves."
The Pioneers' play in the second half, especially, made it easy for Western's fans to believe.
After being held to 70 yards of total offense and three first downs in the first half, Western scored on its second possession as senior quarterback Dean Chambers hit senior wing-back David Bell for a 13-yard touchdown, capping a short drive with 5:39 left in the quarter. Although the Pioneers missed the extra point, they took the lead for good at 12-10.
Senior all-purpose standout Mike Mueller set up the score by returning a punt 42 yards to the Eagles' 20. Mueller also returned a kickoff 60 yards in the first half and led Western with 83 yards on 14 carries.
Meanwhile, the Pioneers' defense sealed the victory in the fourth as junior defensive back Jimmy Conway picked off a Chris Collins pass intended for tight end Eric Brown at his own 42 and returned to the Santa Margarita 7-yard line with 4:35 left in the game.
An unsportsmanlike penalty and three plays later, Chambers found Mueller in the corner of the end zone, making the score 18-10.
“They were going in and out on me all game and luckily I was there when they tried an out,” said Conway, who banged his knee on the game's last play but will be able to go next week.
Both teams shook off slow starts in the second quarter thanks to big plays on offense.
Mueller struck first as he broke two tackles on a sweep and dashed for a 56-yard touchdown on the second play of the second period.
The story for Western in the first half was that they forced a pair of turnovers – one an interception in the end zone by Mueller that he returned 39 yards — but failed to score.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Wes - Mueller 14-83, Garcia 10-23; SM - Collins 10-42, Newman 9-33
Passing: Wes - Chambers 9-16-0-82: SM - Collins 12-27 2-165
Receiving: Wes - Mueller 4-35, Branstetter 3-24; SM - Nickels 3-114, Brown 4-50
By Dan Albano
Saturday, November 25, 1995
The Orange County Register - Sports 16
