Eagles 59 - Servite 18
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| Photos: Matt A. Brown |
FULLERTON, CA., November 28, 1997 – Santa Margarita beat Servite by 41 points for the second time in 9 weeks as they posted a 59-18 win in the CIF Quarterfinals. The win was their 23rd consecutive and put them within one victory of a return trip to the finals. The Eagles needed three plays to score on the strength of a 32-yard TD strike from Carson Palmer to Greg Orlando. Orlando, who blocked two PATs, was later on the receiving end of a 22-yarder to cap a four reception 107-yard day. Garrett Thompson, who logged 57 and 63-yard kickoff returns, joined Orlando as Special Teams Players of the Game. Palmer completed 10 of 16 passes for 222 yards and 3 TDs while Nick Cappelletti added a career-high 18 tackles to spearhead the defense.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
| Servite | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 18 |
SM – Orlando 32 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SER – Garko 1 run (kick failed)
SM – FG Sparks 20
SM – Minardi 46 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SM – Wolfsberger 13 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Palmer 15 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Orlando 22 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SM – Brooks 21 blocked punt return (Sparks kick)
SM – Wolfsberger 2 run (Sparks kick)
SER – DeLellis 5 run (kick failed)
SM – McCrosky 4 run (Luke kick)
SER – Rueff 1 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Wolfsberger 11-74, Palmer 5-33; Ser - Reed 14-39, Gribben 8-30
Passing: SM - Palmer 10-16-0-223; Ser - Garko 8-18-0-72
Receiving: SM - Orlando 4-109, Minardi 4-90; Ser - DeLellis 7-104, Gribben 1-15
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Santa Margarita routs Servite
FULLERTON – There is a theory that it's tough to beat the same team twice in one season. It just didn't apply Friday night to Santa Margarita in its CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinal game against Servite.
The division's top seed and defending champion routed Servite for the second time this season, 59-18, in front of a crowd of 4,000 at Cal State Fullerton.
Santa Margarita, which has won a school-record 23 consecutive games, beat Servite, 55-14, in week three. But Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said the Eagles forgot about that game, and even made adjustments for Friday.
"We prepared like we didn't play them twice," Hartigan said.
The biggest adjustment was in the passing game. Santa Margarita (12-0) ran for 415 yards in the first encounter, but went to the air this time to match their best start in school history. The Eagles also opened 12-0 in 1990.
Preseason All-American quarterback Carson Palmer paced the passing attack by completing 10 of 16 attempts for 223 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-5 senior also ran for a 15-yard score, which he capped by hurdling Servite defensive back Brian Lentz at the goal-line. The touchdown gave Santa Margarita a 31-6 lead with 2:24 left in the half.
"(Servite) did a good job of taking away the run," Hartigan said. "They gave us some man-to-man coverage and we took advantage."
Palmer threw for his touchdowns and all his yards in the first half as the Eagles opened a 38-6 lead. He left the game after the Eagles' first possession of the second half and has 25 touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He said pass protection was the key.
"The offensive line did awesome," he said. "I had all day to sit back and throw."
Wide receiver John Minardi, who has verbally committed to Colorado, had four catches for 90 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown on a roll out by Palmer.
Minardi also notched the 102nd career reception of his career, which qualifies his average yards-per-catch of 22.1 for the state record.
Servite (6-6) stayed close early, driving 74 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown on its first possession.
By Dan Albano
Saturday, November 29, 1997
The Orange County Register - Sports 14
