EAGLES 24 - RANCHO BERNARDO 23
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 9, 1998 – The Eagles (4-1) built leads of 14-0 and 17-3, but had to stop a two-point conversion attempt with 1:46 left to preserve a 24-23 win over San Diego Section Division I Rancho Bernardo (4-1). The win put the Eagles back on the winning track after suffering their first defeat in 29 tries at the hands of San Clemente the previous week. The Eagles played possibly their best quarter of the season as they took the opening kickoff and marched 76 yards on only six plays as Greg Orlando scored on a 45-yard scamper with 8:59 left. After a Bronco punt, the Eagles advanced into Bronco territory; however, Matt Froehlich’s 52-yard field goal sailed wide. Later in the quarter, the Eagles put together a six-play 45-yard drive capped by Josh Wills’ one-yard run to up the lead to 14-0. At this point the Eagles had gained 143 yards and held the Broncos to 15 yards on seven plays. Rancho Bernardo responded with a 38-yard field goal and a 68-yard run by Josh Sattley to cut the margin to 14-9. On the PAT attempt Mike O’Gorman burst through the line to block his second kick in as many weeks. A 21-yard Froehlich field goal closed out the first half scoring. After a scoreless third quarter, Sattley scored again, this time from 2 yards out. The two-point conversion was successful and the game was tied at 17. Orlando found Matt Lopez on a 15-yard touchdown strike to increase the lead to 24-17 with 6:22 left, but the Broncos didn’t give up. After trading possessions, the Broncos gained possession with 1:55 left and needed one play to score as Mike Rathe found Scott Ferrette on a 36-yard pass to pull within one. Rathe, trying to score on a two-point play for the win was stopped inside the one by John Bennett and Tyler Thompson with the help of Brandon Smith to preserve the win. Defensively, the Eagles limited the Broncos to six completions in 18 attempts while Josh Wills had his second consecutive big game with 15 tackles. John Bennett also collected 10 tackles while Mike O’Gorman had a career high eight.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Rancho Bernardo | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
SM – Orlando 46 run (Froehlich kick)
SM – Wills 1 run (Froehlich kick)
RB – FG Jeffreys 38
RB – Satley 68 run (kick failed)
SM – FG Froehlich 21
RB – Satley 2 run (Willingbring run)
SM – Lopez 15 pass (Froehlich kick)
RB – Ferrette 36 pass from Rathe (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: RB - Satley 23-163, Rathe 3-9; SM - McCroskey 19-85, Orlando 11-75
Passing: RB - Rathe 5-18-0-98; SM - Orlando 9-16-1-85
Receiving: RB - Ferrette 3-99, Satley 1-(-1); SM - Creager 2-29, O'Gorman 2-19
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Eagles rally from shock, top Broncos
MISSION VIEJO – Santa Margarita got all it could want in Friday night's 24-23 victory against Rancho Bernardo at Saddleback College. For Coach Jim Hartigan, the victory was all that mattered.
"We were pretty stunned after last week and we needed to shake it off," Hartigan said. "I'm proud of these kids, and glad that they responded."
The Eagles (4-1) were coming off a 34-17 loss to San Clemente, their first defeat since early 1996.
On its opening drive, Santa Margarita took only six plays to score as quarterback Greg Orlando ran through the Broncos defense 46 yards for the touchdown. After a missed field goal on their second possession, the Eagles worked a short field for another six plays before Josh Wills drove in from the 1-yard line for a 14-0 Eagles lead at the end of the first quarter.
After settling for a field goal, the Broncos got another chance off an interception of Greg Orlando. Running back Josh Satley broke through the line of scrimmage for a 68-yard touchdown run.
Late in the third quarter, the Broncos made good on a short Eagles punt and drove 34 yards to score on a 2-yard run by Satley.
Starting from its 29-yard line, Santa Margarita ground out 15 plays, chewing up more than six minutes off the clock. Key runs by Orlando and Spencer McCroskey helped set up a 6-yard touchdown pass play from Orlando to Matt Lopez.
By Dennis Bateman
Saturday, October 10, 1998
The Orange County Register - D13
