Eagles 31 - Alemany 10
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 20, 2000 – Tyler Thompson rushed for a career-high 213 yards and two touchdowns and Mat Dlugolecki threw two touchdown passes to lead the Eagles to a commanding 31-10 win over the Alemany Indians before a homecoming crowd of 4,500 at Saddleback College. The win improved the Eagles to 5-2 heading into Serra League play, and avenged last seasons 42-28 loss at the hands on the Indians. With the loss Alemany fell to 2-5. The Eagles wasted little time in building a quick lead as Thompson returned the opening kickoff 53 yards to the Indian 47. The senior captain then carried the ball on five consecutive plays and scored on a one-yard run only 2:15 into the game to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. On Alemany's third offensive play, Trevor Zinn stripped an Alemany back of the ball to set the Eagles up at the Alemany 31; however, the Eagles could not capitalize and surrendered the ball on downs. After forcing the Indians to punt, the Eagles went on a six-play 79-yard drive highlighted by a 64-yard run by Thompson and capped by his second touchdown run of the game - this one from nine yards out - to increase the lead to 14-0 with 1:16 left in the first quarter.
After forcing another punt, Santa Margarita went on a seven-play 88-yard drive and went up 21-0 when Matt Dlugolecki (eight of 14 for 104 yards) found Johnnie Walker on an 11-yard scoring pass at the 9:33 mark of the second quarter. The Indians rebounded by putting together a nice drive of their own going 91 yards on eight plays and scoring on a 35-yard scoring pass from A.J. Anthony to Chris Rodela with 6:22 left in the half. On the Eagles next drive Thompson rushed for 62 yards on six consecutive carries before Dlugolecki found Tom Cappelletti (four receptions 56 yards) on a 28-yard touchdown pass at the 3:07 mark. Sophomore kicker Jeff Ferrier, filling in for Curtis Cooper, closed out the first-half scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 0:04 left. At this point the Eagles had outgained the Indians 344-107 and held them to five first downs. The second half was played almost exclusively with reserves by the Eagles and junior QB Marshall Tharpe stood out by completing four of five second half passes for 62 yards. All told the Eagles gained a season-high 319 yards rushing and 485 total yards and limited the Indians to only 236. Defensively 22 players recorded at least one tackle led by Matt Vogels six and Cappelletti's five.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Alemany | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
SM – Thompson 1 run (Ferrier kick)
SM – Thompson 8 run (Ferrier kick)
SM – Walker 11 pass from Dlugolecki (Ferrier kick)
ALE – Rodela 35 pass from Anthony (Marxen kick)
SM – Cappelletti 29 pass from Dlugolecki (Ferrier kick)
SM – Ferrier 35 FG
ALE – Marxen 32 FG
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Alem - Griffin 14-48, Sosa 3-15; SM - Thompson, 19-213, Dlugolecki 3-25
Passing: Alem - Anthony 9-18-157; SM - Dlugolecki, 8-15-104
Receiving: Alem - Lance 5-64, Hampshire 2-42; SM - Clark 2-61, Cappelletti 4-57
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Eagles' Thompson runs wild against Alemany
The Santa Margarita running back gains a career high 213 yards to lead the Eagles to the win.
MISSION VIEJO – Since Ashton White was given the week off, the rushing chores fell squarely on the shoulders of Tyler Thompson.
Thompson responded to the challenge in grand fashion, gaining 213 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries to lead the Eagles to a 31-10 win over Alemany in a nonleague game at Saddleback College Friday evening.
"Coach (Jim) Hartigan told me all week I would be in there until I couldn't go anymore," Thompson said. "I had to mentally prepare myself."
Thompson took the opening kickoff and fumbled at his own 1-yard line. He recovered and ran 53 yards to the Alemany 47-yard line.
Thompson then gained all 47 yards on five carries. He scored on a 1-yard run to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
The Eagles (5-2) added another score eight minutes later when Thompson scored on an eight yard touchdown. The play was set up when Thompson broke free for a 64-yard gain to the Alemany 13-yard line.
Santa Margarita added to the lead early in the second quarter when quarterback Matt Dlugolecki hooked up with Johnnie Walker for an 11-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0.
Alemany (2-5) came right back with an eight play 91 yard drive which culminated on a 35 yard touchdown pass from A.J. Anthony to Chris Rodela.
The Eagles answered that when Dlugolecki connected with Thomas Cappelletti for a 29-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 28-7 lead. Jeff Ferrier added a 35 yard field goal before the end of the half.
Thompson had 57 yards on six carries on the drive. He finished the half with 211 yards on 18 carries.
Santa Margarita played mostly reserves in the second half.
Quarterback Marshall Tharpe completed 3-of-5 passes for 50 yards while running back Travis Widner gained 22 yards on seven carries.
"It was nice to get all the kids in," Hartigan said. "They've been doing great in practice and deserve a chance to play."
Alemany took a major hit when running back DeAndre Scott transferred to St. Paul a few weeks ago. Scott gained 353 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Alemany to a 42-28 win over the Eagles last year.
"It wouldn't have mattered if he played or not," Thompson said.
"We would have come out and played just as hard."
Santa Margarita will begin Serra League play against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College Friday at 7:30 p.m.
By Eric La Pack
Saturday, October 21, 2000
The Orange County Register - D9
Thompson, line click for Eagles
MISSION VIEJO – Tyler Thompson rushed for a career-high 213 yards on 19 carries to lead Santa Margarita past Alemany, 31-10, in a nonleague game at Saddleback College on Friday.
"The offensive line clicked," Thompson said. "Everything came together for us."
Thompson gained 211 yards in the first half. He rested for most of the second half.
Ashton White, who normally shares the rushing duties with Thompson, was given the week off by Coach Jim Hartigan, and that meant Thompson had to carry the load.
"Coach Hartigan told me all week I would be in there until I couldn't go anymore," Thompson said. "I had to mentally prepare myself."
The Eagles scored on their first possession when Thompson ran in from 1 yard out.
Santa Margarita (5-2) was aided by good field position. Thompson returned the opening kickoff 53 yards to the Alemany 47-yard line. He gained the remaining 47 yards on five carries.
The Eagles scored again when Thompson went in from 8 yards out to make it 14-0 with 1:16 remaining in the first quarter.
With the Eagles leading, 21-0, Alemany (2-5) got on the board when quarterback A.J. Anthony threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Chris Rodela midway through the second quarter.
The Eagles came right back when quarterback Matt Dlugolecki found Thomas Cappelletti for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
By Eric La Pack
Saturday, October 21, 2000
The Orange County Register
