Eagles 21 - Mission Viejo 20
Santa Margarita pulls off escape with late TD
MISSION VIEJO, CA., December 2, 2011 – Santa Margarita football coach Harry Welch, along with the overflow crowd at Mission Viejo, knew which team had the momentum with just over six minutes left in Friday's CIF Pac-5 Division semifinal.
"Mo(mentum) was sitting on that side of the field," Welch later said, pointing toward the Mission Viejo sideline. "She (momentum) is a fickle woman."
Santa Margarita's offense and quarterback Johnny Stanton made up their mind to regain control in the final 6:35 of the fourth quarter. The junior drove Santa Margarita 70 yards on 12 plays to score with 1:02 left to claim a dramatic, 21-20, victory.
Stanton dived in from 1-yard line on second-and-goal to tie the score, 20-20, and John McGrory kicked the extra point for the go-ahead point.
Santa Margarita's defense then held and the Eagles (11-2) advanced to their first Southern Section final since 1998, the year after Carson Palmer's senior season of 1997.
The Eagles will face San Clemente (12-1) after overcoming a late surge by Mission Viejo (10-3).
The Diablos took a 17-14 lead with 10:03 left in the fourth quarter on an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Doug Ruggles. The senior safety made the play as the Eagles appeared to be on the verge on opening a two-score lead but Ruggles scooped up a fumble in the backfield and bolted untouched for the score.
Ruggles got a huge hug from Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson, but he wasn't done yet. On the ensuing possession by Santa Margarita, Ruggles intercepted a pass that was deflected in the secondary back to the line of scrimmage by Mission Viejo safety Max Redfield and then hit by a Santa Margarita offensive lineman.
When the ball stopped bouncing in the air, Ruggles had the interception and Mission Viejo was at the Eagles 22 with 9:47 left. But in one of the many drives that proved to be criticial, the Diablos drove for a first-and-goal at the 9 but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Zach Olsen, who extended the Diablos' lead to 20-14 with 6:35 left.
But Stanton carried seven times on the winning drive to lift the Eagles to their first Pac-5 final.
"That's one of the most remarkable games I've been involved in in 45 years," said Welch, who will be seeking his ninth section title Saturday at Angel Stadium. "That's one for the books. ... No one should have lost that game."
Mission Viejo defeated Santa Margarita, 31-28, last season in the quarterfinals.
"Obviously, we're evenly matched," Johnson said. "(I'm) very proud of our kids and staff."
The score was locked, 7-7, at halftime but Mission Viejo had a late chance to take its second lead of the first half.
On a third-and-goal from the Santa Margarita 1, the Diablos lost a fumble coming out of a timeout with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. The Eagles' Sammy Gibbs recovered the ball at his 2 and one of the Diablos' best drives of the half was over.
The play loomed large early in the third period. Santa Margarita received the second half kickoff and promptly opened a 14-7 lead on a 57-yard touchdown by Ryan Wolpin, who finished with 161 yards.
Olsen kicked a 29-yard field goal late in third to cut the Eagles' lead to 14-10.
Mission Viejo quarterback Alex Bridgford tossed a 63-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver D.J. Wilson to give the Diablos a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Santa Margarita put together a scoring drive in the second quarter. Wolpin capped an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run as the Eagles tied the score, 7-7, with 6:25 left in the half.
On Mission Viejo's next possession, it lost running back, Buzzy Yokoyama, for the game with an injury. Running back Jahleel Pinner led the Mission Viejo ground attack with 105 yards.
Stanton rushed for 118 yards on 24 carries. He gained 35 yards on the final drive, including 15 on a run up the middle in which he plowed over a tackler.
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Mission Viejo | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
MV – Wilson 63 pass from Bridgeford (Olsen kick)
SM – Wolpin 1 run (McGrory kick)
SM – Wolpin 57 run (McGrory kick)
MV – Olsen 29 FG
MV – Ruggles 85 fumble return (Olsen kick)
MV – Olsen 28 FG
SM – Stanton 1 run (McGrory kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: MV - Pinner 18-105, Yokoyama 6-26; SM - Stanton 24-118, Wolpin 17-161
Passing: MV - Bridgeford 6-17-0-107; SM - Stanton 8-20-1-82
Receiving: MV - Redfield 2-36, Pinner 2-3, Wilson 2-68; SM - Modster 1-9, Suchesk 1-4, Mendoza 1-8, Cracraft 4-42
By Dan Albano
Saturday, December 03, 2011
The Orange County Register
