Eagles 42 - El Toro 21
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 8, 1996 – It was a night in which a league title was on the line. A night where champions step to the forefront. Carson Palmer showed his championship form, leading the Eagles to a 42-21 win over defending league and CIF champion El Toro. Palmer rushed for 150 yards and threw for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns. His total offense yardage and 4 TD passes were both school records. Billy Newman added 122 yards rushing and Billy O’Connor had two scores with 111 reception yards. The defense held Murle Sango in check, allowing only 68 total yards to the versatile player. The 4-0 league record assured the Eagles their 1st league title.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| El Toro | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
SM – Palmer 16 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Newman 4 run (Sparks kick)
ET – Koupal 61 pass from Strand (Johnson kick)
SM – O'Connor 36 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
ET – Sango 5 run (Johnson kick)
ET – Smith 58 pass from Strand (Johnson kick)
SM – O'Connor 57 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SM – Minardi 10 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SM – Crowder 41 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Palmer 19-146, Newman 25-124; ET - Ohlwiler 4-68, Oales 6-37
Passing: SM - Palmer 13-21-1-221; ET - Strand 18-28-285
Receiving: SM - O'Connor 4-111, Crowder 3-67; ET - Smith 6-119, Koupal 2-74
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Eagles soar by El Toro
MISSION VIEJO – Sixth ranked Santa Margarita clinched a tie for its first league title in style Friday defeating El Toro, 42-21, in a Sea View game at Trabuco Hills High.
Santa Margarita, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, broke open a 21-21 game midway through the third quarter by scoring 21 consecutive points to improve to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in league. El Toro dropped to 5-4, 2-2.
Quarterback Carson Palmer led the Eagles, throwing three touchdown passes for Santa Margarita's final 21 points. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior finished 13 of 21 for 221 yards, an interception and a school-record four touchdowns. He also ran for 146 yards on 19 carries.
The Eagles' defense also was impressive with six sacks (five in the second half), including one. on fourth down with the Chargers on Santa Margarita's 26 with 7:51 left in the game.
"It's big," Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said of the victory, which he called the biggest in school history. "To beat the defending Division V champs and the defending Sea View League champs, this is a great win."
By Dan Albano
Saturday, November 9, 1996
The Orange County Register - Sports 13
