1997 EAGLES

At Santa Margarita: Speed Eagle, Iron Eagle, Power Eagle, Strength Eagle, 500, 800, 900 pound club member, Hartigan's Heroes, and War Eagle; will start on both Offense and Defense; was the Freshman MVP and the Impact Player on varsity as a junior; has run a 4.02 pro agility, a 4.6 in the 40; benches 275 and squats 405.
Personal: Mother Claire, and Father Angelo; sister Gina, and brothers Billa and Matt.
College Choices: Committed to Colorado.

John the Sea View League Defensive Player of the Year, is an All-American, All-State, All-County, and All-CIF candidate who has enjoyed another record setting season in leading his team to a perfect 13-0 record. At Servite, John caught eight passes for 160 yards and one touchdown and added five tackles. Minardi now owns five of the top six receiving yardage games in school history. His eight catches raised his season total to 64 and pushed his school record receiving yardage total to 1,345 yards. Minardi currently has 18 total Tds and 17 receiving Tds which breaks his own school record of 14 which he set last year. John caught four passes for 91 yards and one touchdown (46 yards) and collected seven tackles. Against Katella in Week 11, John caught eight passes for 193 yards and three Tds, registered four tackles and intercepted a pass and ran it back 38 yards to earn Orange County Register Athlete of the Week, and Santa Margarita Offensive and Defensive Player of the Game honors. His three Tds was the fourth time John has caught at least three Tds in a game. Against El Toro in Week 10, John shook off the effects of a cold and still posted 3 receptions and five tackles. In Week 9, Minardi caught nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, and added eight tackles and an interception against Woodbridge to help lead the Eagles to their second consecutive Sea View League Championship. His 113-yard effort set a school mark for consecutive games with 100 or more yards receiving. Against Irvine in Week 8, John caught four passes for 141 yards and two Tds against including a season long 72-yard Td, and added six tackles. Minardi caught six passes for 141 yards and three Tds, scored a fourth Td on a fake field goal, and added nine tackles and a blocked punt to be named Los Angeles Times and Saddleback Valley News’ Athlete of the Week for his work against Newport Harbor in Week 7. His three receiving Tds broke Brian Finneran’s school record of 22. In Week 6 at Corona del Mar, John returned a kickoff 25 yards, rushed once for 20 yards and caught the 1,000th pass in Eagle history. John recorded his first career interception on defense, and caught a career high nine passes for a school record 242 yards with a Td at Fountain Valley in Week 5. At El Modena in Week 4, John returned a punt a career long 30 yards. Against Trabuco Hills he tied his career high with 15 tackles and added five receptions. He has 56 catches for 1,185 yards (best in Orange County) and 16 receiving Tds despite seeing limited second half action all season. His 21.2 average is best in Orange County (min. 26 catches). He has caught at least one Td pass in 22 of his last 27 games, and 31 total in his last 27. John has caught a pass in 27 straight games second only to Brian Finneran’s 29.

Misc. John, a co-Captain, has a 3.26 GPA, and has made a verbal commitment to play WR at Colorado. Minardi may qualify for a new state record for yards per reception. The current record is 20.4 set by Brian Brown of Yuba City from 1986-88. John’s career average is at 22.2. Minardi is second in career receptions at Santa Margarita with 110, and second in receiving yardage with 2,422. He is 117 behind Brian Finneran’s career mark of 2,539. His 204 career tackles are fifth best in school history. In four games vs. rival Newport Harbor, Minardi has caught 27 passes for 643 yards and eight Tds. John holds or shares 12 school records including total touchdowns in a game (4), receiving yards (242) and receiving Tds (3, three times) in a game, receiving Tds in a season (17) and career (31), yards per catch in a season (24.8) and career (22.2), most 1,000-yard seasons (2), and consecutive games with at least one Td catch (10), and with 100 or more yards (3). John has also played in a school record 39 varsity football games.

In 1996, he caught 42 passes for 1,040 yards with 14 Tds. In two games vs. Newport Harbor, Minardi caught 13 passes for 342 yards and four Tds. John led the team with 117 tackles - the 4th best in school history.