Newsworthy Items
The Eagle are enjoying their 12th season of at least seven wins, and are guaranteed not to have a losing season for the 15th year in a row. They qualified for their 14th playoff berth in 15 seasons.
Santa Margarita’s pass defense had a remarkable showing in 2002 as it allowed only 57 pass completions and no touchdown passes. Through 10 games in 2003 the Eagles have allowed only 65 pass completions and three passing Tds – a QB rating of 95.1.
In 10 games the Eagles have more 10-yard runs from scrimmage (66) in 2003 than they did in all of 2002 (50 in 11 games).
Senior WR/K Jason Graban’s three field goals against Servite in 2001 broke the school record for field goals in a game.
Senior DT Matt Rupp has set school records for sacks in a game (4 vs. Trabuco Hills ’02 and Bishop Amat ‘03), season (13.5) and a career (31.0 and counting). Matt may also set season and career fumble recovery records too.
Several former Eagles are making news: After a great spring in NFL Europe, 1997 CIF Division V Defensive Player of the Year, John Minardi (SMHS Class of ’98) Colorado) signed with the Houston Texans. 1997 Walter Payton Award winner Brian Finneran (SMHS Class of ’94, Atlanta Falcons) is entering his sixth NFL campaign. 1999 High School All-American QB Chris Rix (SMHS Class of ’00) is having an outstanding season for undefeated Florida State while QB Matt Dlugolecki (SMHS Class of ’01) has looked good in the first two games of the season for San Diego State.
After years of planning the administration has resurfaced the playing field at Santa Margarita High School with a state of the art artificial surface. Next Turf, used by dozens of athletic programs across the country is a durable, safe, great looking and maintenance free surface that will allow the main lighted field to be used as the home field for the Eagle lower level teams as well as the boys and girls soccer teams
