JSerra - Game Notes
The Eagles (4-5) are coming off a loss to Orange Lutheran to fall to 1-3 in Trinity League play, but they are not mathematically eliminated from an automatic playoff berth nor as an at-large selection. Santa Margarita needs to beat JSerra (6-3, 1-3) this week to improve to 5-5 and more importantly 2-3 in league play and hope for wins by Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco to force a three way tie for third place with Mater Dei and Servite leading to a coin flip. For the Eagles, a loss by Mater Dei to Orange Lutheran and an SM win over JSerra presents the best post-season possibilities. A win by Mater Dei would push the Eagles into the at-large pool no matter the outcome of the JSerra game because the Eagles would not have any tie breaker advantages over Orange Lutheran or Servite (or in the case of a loss, JSerra too).
This week the Eagles will play the J Serra Lions at Saddleback College on Friday, November 8th The Lions are coming off a 48-43 win over Servite. Although both ther Eagles and Lions share Saddleback College this will be JSerra's designated home game. Kickoff for this match up is set for 7 pm.
The JSerra game will mark the 10th game of the Eagles 25th Anniversary season and it will be the 8th meeting between these foes dating back to 2006 with the Eagles holding a 6-1 series edge. The victorious team would be positioned for a possible Pac-5 playoff berth as a potential third place qualifier or in an at-large capacity.
Santa Margarita's Harry Welch comes into the game with a career mark of 256-59-2 in his 25th season as a head coach. He is 3-0 against JSerra and 11-8 in Trinity League play in his fourth season with the Eagles.
The Lions are led by former Eagle Head Coach Jim Hartigan who is in his seventh year at JSerra and 25th season overall as a head coach. His career record is 197-89-4 including a 122-44-3 mark in 14 seasons at Santa Margarita, 41-10-1 in four seasons at Clovis West and 34-35 the past seven at JSerra.
Senior RB Jeremy McNichols leads the Eagles with 735 yards rushing while adding 17 receptions and 9 total touchdowns. Junior QB/WR/PR/P Kyle Sweet paces a balanced offensive attack with 51 receptions for 909 yards, while also completing 49% of his passes and rushing for 190 yards with 11 total touchdowns. In the Mater Dei game, Kyle Sweet ran and passed for 87 yards each, logged a 59-yard punt, returned a punt 4 yards and scored the game sealing TD with a 16-yard run with 2:35 left in the game. Sophomore QB KJ Costello has completed 100 of 175 passes (57.1%) for 1,478 yards and 12 TDs.
Junior OLB Grady Higgins leads the defense with 91 total tackles (including 1.5 sacks), while senior DT Randall Swain has six sacks to lead the team. Senior safety Jonathan LaBonty has three interceptions to lead the team while Junior DE Rick Wade has four sacks (59 total tackles) and a school record 74-yard interception return for a TD at Carson. Senior DE Taylor Prenovost and junior CB Rick Ellison have two fumble recoveries each.
Senior kicker Alex Ury tied a school record at Mater Dei with his three field goals including a career-long 42-yarder. In his career Alex is now 78 of 81 in PATs and 7 for 10 in field goals.
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
