Eagles 31 - Fountain Valley 0
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| Photo: Matt Brown |
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 11, 1996 – The Eagles defense flexed its muscles on this night, shutting out the eventual Sunset League champions, 31-0. SM forced three fumbles and held the Barson to 67 yards rushing. They also sacked the Fountain Valley quarterback 4 times. Fountain Valley had been averaging 29 points a game. The offense got off to a slow start, but went in with a 7-0 halftime lead on a 3rd and 31 Hail Mary play from Carson Palmer to John Minardi. Billy newman took over in the second half with a 19-yard TD run and a 60-yard punt return for a score. Newman finished the night with 230 yards on 19 carries.
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 31 |
| Fountain Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SM – Minardi 37 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SM – FG Sparks 37
SM – Newman 19 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Newman 60 punt return (Sparks kick)
SM – Minna 3 run (Sparks kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: FV - Medley 5-37, Otis 4-33; SM - Newman 19-227, McCroskey 5-66
Passing: FV - Lamar 11-22-0-132; SM - Palmer 6-11-1-136
Receiving: FV - Gruca 5-84, Medley 4-28; SM - Minardi 2-84, Long 1-20
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Santa Margarita rolls to victory
MISSION VIEJO – Senior running back Billy Newman rushed for 227 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and also scored on a school record 60-yard punt return to lead No. 7 Santa Margarita to a 31-0 non league victory over Fountain Valley on Friday night at Saddleback College.
“He had a great night against a good team,” Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said of Newman, who holds 12 school records.
The Eagles, ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division V, improved to 4-1 heading into next week's Sea View League opener against undefeated Newport Harbor (5-0), ranked No. 3 in Division V. The Barons (3-2) lost their second consecutive game. “It was a good win against a Division I team," Hartigan said. "It's a great way to go into the league opener."
Santa Margarita took a 7-0 lead with 6:28 left in the first half. On third-and-31 from Fountain Valley's 37, Eagles quarterback Carson Palmer connected with tight end John Minardi, who was double covered in the left corner of the end zone, for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Minardi broke a school record with his fifth consecutive game with a touchdown reception.
Santa Margarita broke open the game with 24 points in the second half. Newman scored on a 19-yard run with 1:36 left in the third quarter and then came the backbreaker when Newman scored on a 60-yard punt return as time ran out in the third quarter.
Santa Margarita's defense forced three fumbles and held Fountain Valley to 67 rushing yards on 27 carries. The Eagles pass rush never gave Barons quarterback Mike Lamar time to throw the ball, sacking him four times for minus-34 yards. Junior defensive lineman Andy Hopper accounted for two sacks.
"Other than the penalties I thought we played a great game," said Hartigan, whose team had 11 penalties for minus 120 yards.
Fountain valley had 11 penalties for minus-62 yards.
By Carlos Arias
Saturday, October 12, 1996
The Orange County Register - Sports 12
