Bishop Amat - Game Notes
The Bishop Amat game marks the start of the Eagle’s fifth season of Serra League play.
With a 5-0 record Santa Margarita is seeking to begin their season 6-0 for only the third time. It was done in 1990 and 1997.
This is the fourth game between Santa Margarita and the Bishop Amat Lancers and their second meeting at Kiefer Stadium. The Eagles lead the series 2-1. Last Year, the Lancers grounded out 398 yards rushing, forced four second half turnovers and returned an onsides kick for a touchdown as they turned a tight 9-7 fourth quarter lead into a decisive 37-20 win at Saddleback College. In 2000, the Eagles used 164 yards rushing from sophomore Ashton White to jump out to a 21-6 lead, but needed a game saving stop on a two-point conversion play by Tyler Thompson with 2:28 remaining to defeat the Lancers 21-19 at Kiefer Stadium. The 1999 contest marked the highest profile game that Santa Margarita had played in up until that time with the Eagles prevailing 35-26. Entering the game Bishop Amat was 5-0 and ranked 1st in CIF-SS Division I, 2nd in the State, 7th in the West by and 17th in the Nation; however, the Lancers could not stop the Eagles’ balanced attack on this night. Led by Jimmy Herzog’s 118 yards rushing and three touchdowns, Chris Rix’s nine of 14 passing effort and Tyler Thompson’s fumble return for a score the Eagles took a 32-12 fourth quarter lead before holding off a late rally led by RB Donnie McCleskey. (Recaps of all games are included herein.)
The Lancers are 4-1 on the season, and are ranked 9th in CIF-SS Division I. Last year, they finished 6-6 and advanced to the Division I quarterfinals before losing to eventual Division I Champion Los Alamitos 30-24. They are led by fifth-year coach Mike DiFiori who has an overall mark of 27-21 (.563).
The Eagles are ranked 4th in Orange County per the Orange County Register, 6th in CIF-SS Division I and 18th in Southern California per the LA Times. They have been ranked in the Orange County Top 10 for 85 of the last 95 weekly polls, and in the CIF Division I Top 10 for 40 of the 46 weekly polls since joining Division I in 1999.
Eagle - Lancer History (SM Leads 2-1)
1999 SM 35, BA 26 @ Saddleback College
2000 SM 21, BA 19 @ Kiefer Stadium (B.A.H.S.)
2002 BA 37, SM 20 @ Saddleback College
Situational Record – Bishop Amat Game
Varsity Game No. and Record: 174 127-44-3 (.739)
Road Game No. and Record: 84 57-26 (.687)
Record at Kiefer Stadium (B.A.H.S.): 1-0 (1.000)
Week 6 Record: 11-3 (.786)
Record vs. Bishop Amat: 2-1 (2003 is 4th Mtg)
Record vs. Los Angeles County Schools: 27-8 (.771)
Record vs. Serra League Schools: 15-7-1 (.674)
Record on Friday: 106-36-3 (.741)
Record as a Division I team: 33-15-2 (.680)
Record vs. Division I teams: 38-18-1 (.675)
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
