Title Run
The Eagles have won 10 or more games for the fourth time in nine years, and have advanced to the CIF Semi-Finals for the third time.
The Eagles have won 37 of their past 41 (.902), and 46 of their last 54 (.852). They have never lost two consecutive home games. Prior to the Woodbridge loss, the Eagles last home loss was to Servite in Week 3 of 1996.
Santa Margarita’s 28-game winning streak came to an end at San Clemente on October 2, 1998. They were four wins from tying the County mark of 32 set by Edison from 1979-81. The 28-game streak was also the second best in Orange County history, and at the time was the second best current streak going in the State, behind Concord De La Salle. The Orange County record for an unbeaten streak is 47 by Los Alamitos. The Griffins went 46-0-1 over a four-year period before losing to Mater Dei in 1994.
Santa Margarita has won 18 of their past 19 home games. This includes 15 games at Saddleback, one at Trabuco Hills HS and two at Cal State Fullerton. They have also won 23 of their past 25 games played away from Saddleback if you count the two CIF Championship Games.
Since Week 8 of the 1989, a span of 115 games, the Eagles have lost only two road games by more than one point – in Week 4 of 1998 at San Clemente and Week 9 at Irvine. During that period they have lost only 24 games and only six of them by eight or more points. Excluding the 1989 (all juniors) and 1994 (rebuilding) seasons, the San Clemente and Irvine games were the only ones that they lost by more than 11 points.
During the 28-game winning streak, the Eagles outscored the opposition 1,118-303, an average score of 39.9 to 10.8, and margin of victory of 29.1 points. During the 1996 season the Eagles outscored their opponents 486-154 - a point differential of +332 and an average margin of 23.7. In 1997, Santa Margarita had one of the best seasons in State history as they outscored their opponents 651-168 - a point differential of +483 points, the 10th best point differential mark in State history. The 651 points were also the 3rd best overall point total in State history.
In 1997, the Eagles trailed only six times the entire season - 7-0 and 21-17 at Fountain Valley, 7-0 vs Katella and 6-0, 14-7 and 20-14 against Tustin. In their 10 wins this year, they trailed once, 8-7, against Dominguez, and 6-0 vs. Tustin, but they did not trail at all vs. Carlsbad, Dana Hills, Rancho Bernardo, El Toro, Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Aliso Niguel or Irvine-CIF.
The Irvine game marked the 19th time since the start of 1996 that the Eagles have held their opponent to eight points or less. Over the past 31 games, they have allowed only 184 first half points (5.9 points per game).
