Eagles 34 - Foothill 20
Eagles rally past Knights
TUSTIN, CA., September 18, 2009 – Spencer Tyson rushed for 147 yards and Reilly Higgins compiled four touchdowns to fuel a second-half Santa Margarita comeback over Foothill, 34-20, in a non league game Friday night at Tustin High.
"It was a tale of two halves,” Eagles coach Mike Jacot said. "All week we talked about playing four full quarters. In this game we did that, and because of it, we were able to rally."
The Eagles (2-1) jumped to a 9-0 first-quarter lead, but saw Foothill score on its last three possessions of the first half. Knights quarterback Aaron Dupin went 6 of 7 for 157 yards and a touchdown in the half, giving Foothill (0-3) a 20-12 advantage.
Dupin and the Foothill offense failed to score in the second half, as Santa Margarita's defense forced five second-half turnovers.
The Eagles cut the Knights' lead to two points after Higgins connected with Jeff Emanuel for a 19-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Foothill's Dupin fumbled the ball, allowing Santa Margarita to regain possession on the Knights 18. John Reisinger booted a 25-yard field goal to reclaim the Santa Margarita lead, 2120, with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth.
The Eagles adjusted to Foothill's increase in blitzing, and on a third-and-8 from their own 15, Spencer took a screen pass from Higgins 85 yards to the end zone, delivering a devastating blow with 5:43 remaining, to make the score 28-20.
| Santa Margarita | 9 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 34 |
| Foothill | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
SM – Higgins 9 run (Reisinger kick)
SM – Spangenberg safety - blocked punt
FH – Stillman 33 pass from Dupin (Verches kick failed)
FH – Dupin 7 run (Verches kick)
SM – Reisinger 34 FG
FH – Tucker 3 run (Verches kick)
SM – Emanuel 19 pass from Higgins (Higgins pass failed)
SM – Reisinger 25 FG
SM – Tyson 85 pass from Higgins (Reisinger kick)
SM – Higgins 8 run (Reisinger kick blocked)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: FH - Dupin 16-(-14), Tucker 22-71; SM - Higgins 12-94, Tyson 25-147
Passing: FH - Dupin 10-21-2-215; SM - Higgins 4-9-0-136
Receiving: FH - Stillman 2-52, Rodriguez 2-75; SM - Reisinger 2-32, Tyson 1-85
By Kenny Connolly
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Orange County Register - Varsity 4
