EAGLES 37 - TRABUCO HILLS 7
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 11, 2002 – The Eagles excelled in all phases of their game as they posted a commanding 37-7 win over a talented Trabuco Hills team before a capacity crowd at Trabuco Hills High. Leading the way was junior DT Matt Rupp who spearheaded a dominating defensive effort as he tied the school record for sacks in a game (four) and pressured heralded QB Brian White into a season worst nine of 21 passing for 110 yards and no touchdowns. The Eagles, who have forced 13 turnovers and have given up only 38 points so far this year, improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1997, while the Mustangs dropped to 3-2.
After a shanked Eagle punt on their opening drive set up Trabuco Hills on the Eagle 35, the Mustangs used eight plays capped by Brian White's seven-yard scoring run to take a 7-0 lead just 2:50 into the game. After an exchange of punts, the Eagles came back to tie the score when they went on a 13-play 82-yard drive on the strength of 67 yards rushing by Ashton White (30 carries for 145 yards) and finished off with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Case Colaw to Bobby Whithorne with 11:27 left in the second quarter. The Eagles took the lead on their next drive as Chase McWhorter's two receptions for 29 yards set up a record tying 47-yard field goal by Will Johnson at the 4:21 mark of the second quarter to make it 10-7. Just nine seconds later, Ryan Nienhuis intercepted a Brian White pass and returned it 29 yards to the Mustang 19. However, the drive stalled and the Eagles were forced to settle for a 34-yard Johnson field goal to increase the lead to 13-7 as the half ended.
On the first play of the second half Joe Ramsey intercepted a Brian White pass on a flea-flicker giving the Eagles the ball on their own 35. Runs of 18 and 24 yards by Ashton White helped set up his five-yard scoring run with 8:29 left in the quarter to make it 20-7. Another field goal by Johnson, this time from 27 yards out, increased the lead to 23-7 at the 3:13 mark. (The three field goals in a single game tied the school mark set last year by Jason Graban). Four plays later Brian White was intercepted for the third time, this one by standout LB Dustin Slinkard who returned it 25 yards to the Mustang 45. Five plays later Colaw (five of eight for 104 yards) dumped a screen pass off to Ashton White who raced down the left sideline and dove for the pylon with a Mustang defender on his back to make it 30-7. On the Eagles next drive they needed only two plays to score as backup QB Mark Sanchez hit Nienhuis on a 57-yard scoring pass to close out the scoring.
Stellar performances were registered by not only by Rupp (Defensive lineman of the Game), Johnson (Special Teams Player of the Game) and Ashton White (Offensive Player of the Game), but QB Case Colaw who threw a career-high two touchdown passes and junior WR/DB Ryan Nienhuis who earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for his play at safety. Slinkard added eight tackles and a 26-yard reception and Ramsey added nine tackles to go along with their interceptions.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 37 |
| Trabuco Hills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
TH – White 7 run (kick good)
SM – Whithorne 15 pass from Colaw (W. Johnson kick)
SM – W. Johnson 47 FG
SM – W. Johnson 34 FG
SM – White 5 run (W. Johnson kick)
SM – W. Johnson 27 FG
SM – White 34 pass from Colaw (W. Johnson kick)
SM – Nienhuis 57 pass from Sanchez (W. Johnson kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - White 30-145
Passing: TH - SM - Colaw 5-8-104; White 9-21-110
Receiving: SM - Nienhuis 1-57, White 1-34, Whithorne 1-15
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Santa Margarita plays to perfection
The Eagles, now 5-0, star on offense, defense and special teams in winning, 37-7
MISSION VIEJO – Santa Margarita intercepted three passes and Ashton White ran for 145 yards and scored two touchdowns Friday as the third-ranked Eagles cruised to a 37-7 nonleague victory against host Trabuco Hills.
Santa Margarita (5-0), off to its best start since 1997, faced its best passer of the season in Trabuco Hills' Brian White. The senior entered the game with the second-most passing yards in Orange County (1,063) and nine touchdowns.
But the Eagles held White and Trabuco Hills (3-2) to 108 yards passing and without a passing touchdown. Santa Margarita forced four turnovers and scored 17 points after interceptions. The Eagles also sacked White three times.
"I thought we played well on defense," Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said. "We pressured him enough to mess up his rhythm."
Santa Margarita again fared well in the turnover margin area. The Eagles committed their first turnover of the season with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter. A junior varsity player fumbled on a run. For the season, Santa Margarita has 13 takeaways and one turnover.
Ryan Neinhuis had an interception in the first half and Joe Ramsey and Dustin Slinkard had interceptions in the second half. Neinhuis' leaping interception and 29-yard return to the Mustangs 19 set up a 34-yard field goal by Will Johnson, who gave the Eagles a 13-7 lead with 2:49 left in the half.
Earlier in the second quarter, Johnson matched the school record with a 47-yard field goal.
Ramsey's interception on the first play of the second half led to Ashton White's 5-yard touchdown run with 8:29 left in the third. The score and extra point gave the Eagles a 20-7 lead.
Slinkard's interception and 25-yard return to the Mustangs 45-yard line led to Ashton White's highlight of the night. On the second play of the fourth quarter, he took a screen pass from Case Colaw and scored from 34 yards. White dove head-first for the end zone and reached for the score, which gave Santa Margarita a 30-7 lead with 11:21 left in the fourth.
Matt Rupp added two sacks for the Eagles.
By Dan Albano
Saturday, October 12, 2002
The Orange County Register
