Eagles 31 - Los Alamitos 7
Special victory for Welch, Santa Margarita
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 2, 2010 – Harry Welch watched his football team play a great game, a 31-7 victory for Santa Margarita over Los Alamitos on Saturday at Saddleback College. But it was just a game.
Welch takes on the biggest challenge of his life Monday, when he undergoes a prostatectomy, a prostate cancer surgical procedure, at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
He found out in August that he has an aggressive form of cancer. Welch, 65, wanted to have the surgery on the Monday of the Eagles' bye week, and that is happening.
Since August, Welch has found it at times difficult to stay focused on football. This past week was more distracting.
"I tried so hard these last six weeks to keep my mind on football," Welch said. "But this week, I gave everything I could to the kids."
The kids gave a lot back to him. Los Alamitos was ranked No. 6 in Orange County this week. Santa Margarita made its season debut in the top 10 this week, at No. 10.
Santa Margarita (4-1) dominated the game in every way. Quarterback Adam Young rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown. He passed for 157 yards and one touchdown.
Cory Thomson scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 40 yards.
Los Alamitos (3-2) lost for the second game in a row, both played without star running back Nick Richardson. It was feared that Richardson had a fractured foot, but recent examination revealed only a sprain, so Richardson could return within a couple of weeks.
Welch had postgame praise for Young, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior who also handles kickoffs for the Eagles and put all them deep into the end zone Saturday — "Is there a better passer-runner-kicker in America?" Welch asked — but also likes the low-profile way the Eagles have gone about their business this season.
"We have no stars, which I love," Welch said. "We're still undiscovered, and that's OK."
Welch has coached eight CIF championship teams, at Canyon of Canyon Country and at St. Margaret's, before he was hired at Santa Margarita this year.
Young has seen why Welch has those eight CIF titles.
"Coach tells me something and I go, 'Oh, yeah. That makes so much sense.' He knows so much about football."
Young said it has been difficult for him and his teammates to not get distracted by what Welch is going through, especially lately.
"We try to just focus on the game," Young said. "And Coach Welch keeps us focused on football."
Santa Margarita was quick and aggressive on defense, and sharp and steady on offense from the opening moments. The Eagles scored on their first possession. The Eagles drove 58 yards on seven plays, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Young to River Cracraft supplying the points.
The Eagles made it 14-0 the next time they got the ball. A 40-yard touchdown run around the right side by Thomson was nullified by offsetting penalties. On the next play — a 40-yard touchdown run by Thomson around the left side.
Santa Margarita pushed its lead to 21-0 on a 3-yard touchdown run by Young with 3:01 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles scored on their first possession of the third quarter, on Thomson's 1-yard touchdown dive, to make it 28-0. They added a 35-yard field goal by John McGrory in the fourth quarter. Los Alamitos got its touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Dylan Lagarde to Richard Turner with 3:28 remaining in the game.
Los Alamitos also has a bye next week. The Griffins play Fountain Valley in the Sunset League opener for both on Oct. 15 at Huntington Beach High.
After its bye week, Santa Margarita opens Trinity League play Oct. 15 against Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College. Welch hopes to be there, but he hopes for more than just resuming coaching.
"I hope I can get rid of it and say, "Look, if we men take care of ourselves look what can happen." I hope this is a nice little signpost for others, that says "Hey, if this silly football coach can do it, I can do it, too."
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Los Alamitos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
SM – Cracraft 10 pass from Young (McGrory kick)
SM – Thomson 40 run (McGrory kick)
SM – Young 3 run (McGrory kick)
SM – Thomson 1 run (McGrory kick)
SM – McGrory FG 35
LA – Turner 7 pass from Lagarde (Boyer kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: LosAl - Lagarde 6-27, Faraimo 14-72; SM - Thomson 6-56, Young 14-142
Passing: LosAl - Lagarde 15-27-2-162; SM - Young 10-17-1-156
Receiving: LosAl - Turner 8-91, Roberts 3-48; SM - Cracraft 4-86, O’Brien 1-19
By Steve Fryer
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Orange County Regsiter
