Season Quick Facts
The Eagles scored 548 points in 2011 which was their second best total ever. Their highest single season scoring totals going back to the start of the program in 1989 were 651 (1997), 548 (2011), 486 (1996) and 435 (2010).
Santa Margarita has been nearly perfect this season on PAT’s since the start of the 2010 season making 127 of their past 129 (.984) including a Southern Section record 106 in a row by John McGrory.
The Eagles set team records for rushing attempts in a game (64) and offensive plays (80) at Los Alamitos in Week 5. They also set team marks for most rushing yards in a season (3,679), rushing touchdowns in a season (59), most rushing attempts in a season (600),
They set a team record with 30 first downs against Bishop Amat in Week 11 of 2011. The Eagles also set a new school record of 309 total first downs in 2011.
Santa Margarita ran 872 offensive plays in 2011 – an average of 58.1 plays per game. This broke the old school mark of 749 plays set in 1998.
The Eagles have run the ball 600 times in 2011 to break the old school record of 515 set in 1998.
Santa Margarita gained 6,172 yards in 2011 – an average of 411.5 per game. The school record of 6,303 was set in 1997.
The Eagles averaged 245.3 yards rushing per game, 6.1 yards per rush and scored 59 rushing TDs in 15 games. The 59 rushing TDs broke the mark of 45 set in 1997.
Santa Margarita had two 1,000-yard rushers in 2011 – Ryan Wolpin (1,637) and Johnny Stanton (1,528). In fact they both averaged over 100 yards per game on the ground.
The Eagles intercepted 24 passes in 2011 and returned them 359 yards to set two new school marks. The previous record for interceptions was 17 set in both 1990 and 2010 and the previous high for return yardage was 285 set last year.
In their first 245 games from 1989-2009, the Eagles scored 56 or more points just four times and three of those were in their 1997 CIF Championship season when future Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer helped the Eagles score a then Orange County record 651 points. In just the past 27 games under Harry Welch’s leadership the Eagles have scored 56 or more points on four occasions and 40 or more in eleven (11).
Santa Margarita averaged 7.1 yards per play in 2011. They were matriculating the ball downfield on each drive at a rate of 50.6 yards per possession (6,172 yards on 122 drives). In their 122 offensive drives in 2011 they were forced into only five three-and-outs.
Including field goals the Eagles scored on 66.4% of their drives (81-of-122).
The Eagle defense forced 32 turnovers during the 2011 season and posted a +12 turnover differential. The 32 turnovers tied a school record set in 1993. They forced four against Trabuco Hills – all in the first half – and four against Long Beach Poly. Eagle defenders have returned three interceptions for touchdowns and they registered 41 sacks. They have a +29 turnover ratio in the 27 games since Harry Welch took over prior to the 2010 season
