Eagles 22 - JSerra 14
Santa Margarita prevails
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 14, 2008 – Mark it down. Friday was the birth of a rivalry.
For the first time in its history, JSerra was competitive on the field against a Trinity League opponent. It just so happened to be against nearby Santa Margarita.
The more established Eagles still beat JSerra, 22-14, but it was the visiting team at Saddleback College that made the statement.
"This is going to turn into the big rivalry game for us," Santa Margarita Coach Mike Jacot said beforehand. Jacot might have preferred a longer wait before JSerra (5-5, 0-5) started to show just how far it has come under second-year coach Jim Hartigan. The Lions lost last year's game, 62-0.
Hartigan won two Southern Section titles as Santa Margarita's first coach.
Both young teams made mistakes, but Santa Margarita (3-7, 1-4) was more effective capitalizing; it scored scored 19 points after JSerra mistakes.
Among them, a 21-yard interception return by Santa Margarita's Morgan Viar to the 16 on the first play of the game set up Rob Maniaci's 27-yard field goal.
A snap over the punter's head gave Santa Margarita possession at the 6, and the Eagles scored on Ryan World's seven-yard pass to Matt Bock for a 10-7 lead with 2:18 left in the first quarter.
Maniaci added a 34-yard field goal as time expired on the half to make it 13-7. He also had a fourth quarter field goal of 38 yards to make it 22-7.
In between was the pivotal play of the game.
Trailing, 13-7, JSerra drove from is 23 to the Eagle 5 but fumbled the ball away to Troy Willet. Santa Margarita answered with a 90-yard drive, including the 64-yard scoring pass from World to Logan Sweet for a 19-7 lead with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
JSerra quarterback Sam Inman scored on a 3-yard run with four seconds left.
"They played harder than us in the first half," Jacot said. "I think we wore them down a little bit.
"But credit to our kids, we were making mistakes and bounced back. The bottom line is that we were struggling but rallied to get the job done."
JSerra outgained Santa Margarita, 265-260.
| Santa Margarita | 10 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
| JSerra | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
SM – Maniaci 27 FG
JS – Greene 14 run (Valentin kick)
SM – Bock 7 pass from World (Maniaci kick)
SM – Maniaci 34 FG
SM – Sweet 64 pass from World (World pass failed)
SM – Maniaci 38 FG
JS – Inman, IV 3 run (Valentin kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: JS - Kimpler 18–102, Greene 6–51; SM - Tyson 26–94, Cruz 9–22
Passing: JS - Greene 1–3–1–13, Inman, IV 3–7–1–16; SM - World 4–9–1–110
Receiving: JS - Behrle 2–10, Butler 4–48; SM - Sweet 2–73, Willet 3–34
By Martin Henderson
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Orange County Register - Varsity 1
