Trabuco Hills - Game Notes
The Trabuco Hills game marks the Eagles’ third on KWRM AM 1370 this season. The Eagles have won their last six games broadcast over the radio.
Santa Margarita is seeking to begin their season 5-0 for the fifth time. It was done in 1990, 1992, 1997 and 2002.
This is the seventh game between Santa Margarita and the Trabuco Hills and their fourth meeting at Saddleback College. The Eagles lead the series 4-2. Last Year, The Eagles excelled in all phases of their game as they posted a commanding 37-7 win 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). Ashton White rushed for 145 yards to lead the offense. In 1997, the Eagles raced out to a 31-0 lead with 8:30 left in the second quarter lead and coasted to a 34-14 win. Back-up QB Greg Orlando, filling in for injured Carson Palmer, rushed for one Td and passed for another. In 1996, Billy Newman stole the show in record breaking fashion as he rushed for a school record 364 yards and three Tds, and set two other records for carries (32) and all-purpose yards (429) in a 38-24 Eagle win. In 1995, the Eagles used 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns by Billy Newman to post a 20-0 win at Saddleback College. Brian Berg contributed six tackles, a forced fumble and a sack in the second half to preserve the shutout. In 1994, The Mustangs returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a score and took advantage of sloppy Eagle play to build a 17-0 lead before Matt Nickel’s two Tds closed the gap to 17-12, but it was too little too late as the Mustangs held on. In 1989, Playing with a team of underclassmen in their first varsity game, the Eagles were no match for the experienced Mustangs who posted a 50-14 win.
In 2002, the Mustangs finished 6-5, and in 3rd place in the South Coast League. They advanced to the Division II playoffs where they lost 43-21 to Claremont. They are led by first-year Head Coach Jason Negro.
The Eagles are ranked 5th in Orange County per the Orange County Register, 8th in CIF-SS Division I and 16th in Southern California per the LA Times. They have been ranked in the Orange County Top 10 for 84 of the last 94 weekly polls, and in the CIF Division I Top 10 for 39 of the 45 weekly polls since joining Division I in 1999
Situational Record – Trabuco Hills Game
Varsity Game No. and Record: 174 126-44-3 (.737)
Home Game No. and Record: 91 69-18-3 (.783)
Record at Saddleback College: 61-15-2 (.795)
Week 5 Record: 9-5 (.643)
Record vs. Trabuco Hills: 4-2 (2003 is 7th Mtg)
Record vs. Orange County Schools: 70-31-1 (.691)
Record vs. South Coast League Schools: 9-6 (.600)
Record vs. Public Schools: 98-32-2 (.750)
Record on Friday: 105-36-3 (.740)
Record as a Division I team: 32-15-2 (.673)
Record vs. Division I teams: 38-18-1 (.675)
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
