Eagles 40 - Woodbridge 7
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| Photo: Matt A. Brown |
IRVINE, CA., November 7, 1997 – Bryant Wolfsberger rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 40-7 win over the Woodbridge Warriors at Irvine High. The win was the 20th in a row for the Eagles and clinched their second straight Sea View League Championship. Wolfsberger’s total was his highest since his days at Capistrano Valley Christian and moved him past former Eagle Josh Ireland into 11th place on the county’s all-time rushing list with 4,297 career yards.
The Eagles uncharacteristically started out slowly as they built a 7-0 first quarter lead thanks to 26-yard Td run by Wolfsberger. The Td was set up by a bad snap on a punt on the previous play. In the second quarter, Carson Palmer (12 of 20 for 159 yards) hit John Minardi with a 6-yard Td pass to make it 13-0; however, Nick Sparks’ PAT was blocked. A scoring drive by Woodbridge with the aid of 30 yards in penalties cut the lead to 13-7 at the half.
Santa Margarita came out inspired in the second half scoring on four of five possessions, limiting the Warriors to four completions in 14 attempts and seven first downs (five by penalty), and forcing three turnovers. Nick Cappelletti (11 tackles) and Andrew Holstein (9 tackles) helped hold the Warriors to five yards on 21 carries on the night. Matt Brooks intercepted his third pass of the season and forced a fumble while Minardi (nine receptions for 113 yards) added 8 tackles and his second interception. Minardi’s Td was his 10th straight game with a Td catch; however another streak ended as Palmer’s mark for consecutive passes without an interception ended at a record 177.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 40 |
| Woodbridge | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
SM – Woltsberger 25 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Minardi 7 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick failed)
WOOD – Valanos 9 pass from Barlow (Terwiske kick)
SM – Wolfsberger 22 run (Palmer pass failed)
SM – Palmer 17 run (Sparks kick)
SM – Woltsberger 13 run (Sparks kick)
SM – McCroskey 19 run (Sparks kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Wolfsberger 26-214, Palmer 9-45; Wood - Coker 6-26. Barlow 5-(-5)
Passing: SM - Palmer 12-20-1-157, Ortando 1-1-0-9; Wood - Barlow 14-34-2-171, Harris 1-1-0-13
Receiving: SM - Minardi 9-112, Orlando 1-23; Wood - Valanos 4-72, Harris 2-59
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Wolfsberger leads Santa Margarita
IRVINE – Santa Margarita quarterback Carlson Palmer was off-target in the early going against Woodbridge on Friday night.
Unfortunately for Woodbridge, Eagles running back Bryant Wolfsberger wasn't.
Wolfsberger carried 26 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns to help Santa Margarita defeat the host Warriors, 40-7, in a Sea View League game.
The victory improved the second-ranked Eagles to 9-0 overall, 4-0 in league and clinched their second consecutive league title. Woodbridge suffered its first loss, falling to 6-1-2 (2-1-1).
With his performance, Wolfsberger passed former Eagle Josh Ireland to move into 10th place on the Orange County career rushing list.
"I thought we did a great job defensively," Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said. “And Bryant ran the ball well all night and that's something he's been doing for us all year."
Palmer finished 12-for-20 passing for 157 yards, one interception (his first of the season) and one touchdown pass (his 18th), a 7-yard fade to John Minardi with 10:52 remaining in the first half.
Minardi finished with nine catches for 112 yards and the one touchdown, giving him a touchdown reception in 10 consecutive games.
Woodbridge quarterback Scott Barlow, under pressure all night, was 14 for 34 for 171 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions. He hooked up with wide receiver Anthony Valanos on a 9 yard scoring pass with 7:24 to play in the half, cutting the Santa Margarita lead to 13-7 at halftime.
By Lee Scheide
Saturday, November 8, 1997
The Orange County Register - Sports 12
