Eagles 42 - Venice 0
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 26, 2014 – In Week 5 Santa Margarita posted their first shutout since 2012 with a 42-0 win over Venice to move to 4-1 on the season. Senior DE Rick Wade led the way as he registered a career-high 14 tackles, intercepted a pass, broke up another and returned an interception one yard for a score. Overall, the Eagles forced five turnovers and allowed the Gondoliers to gain only 159 yards on 62 plays on the night. Offensively, junior QB KJ Costello completed 13 of 15 passes for 129 yards. Senior WR/K/KR Kyle Sweet had a solid all around game as he returned a punt 65 yards for the opening score, caught six passes for a game-high 79 yards, successfully converted all six of his PAT attempts, registered two tackles and averaged 44.5 yards on his two punts. Senior RB Christian Caragao gained a game-high 80 yards and scored his first two career touchdowns while junior RB Dre Hall added 66 yards and two scores of his own.
| Santa Margarita | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
| Venice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SM – Sweet 65 punt return (Sweet kick)
SM – Wade 3 fumble return (Sweet kick)
SM – Caragao 17 run (Sweet kick)
SM – Hall 8 run (Sweet kick)
SM – Caragao 4 run (Sweet kick)
SM – Hall 14 run (Sweet kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Ven - Stewart 17-55, Parramore 7-32; SM - Caragao 10-79, Hall 8-66
Passing: Ven - Blosser 9-24-4-67, De La Cruz 2-4-018; SM - Costello 13-15-0-120
Receiving: Ven - Dafney 2-32, McLurkin 3-18, SM - Sweet 6-80, Rasheed 3-18
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Santa Margarita shuts out Venice
TRABUCO HILLS – Before Friday’s game, Santa Margarita coach Rick Curtis said he wanted his players to focus on their tasks, with extra attention on taking better angles on defense.
The Eagles defense took all the right angles, forcing five turnovers and shutting out Venice, 42-0, in a nonleague victory at Trabuco Hills High.
Santa Margarita’s defense and special teams put the Eagles (4-1) on the scoreboard early in the first quarter. After Venice (0-4) went three-and-out on its first series, senior Kyle Sweet returned the ensuing punt 65 yards for the touchdown.
Two plays later, a sack by junior Matt Mark forced a fumble inside the Venice 5-yard line. Senior Rick Wade recovered the fumble for a scoop-and-score touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Santa Margarita’s run game got its offense moving in the second quarter, as senior Christian Caragao and junior Dre Hall scored rushing touchdowns of 17 and eight yards, respectively.
Venice threatened late in the second quarter, but an interception by senior Grady Higgins and a 52-yard return ended the half.
In the third quarter, Santa Margarita continued to capitalize directly off turnovers. After Wade swatted and intercepted a screen pass, Caragao ran in from four yards out for his second touchdown and a 35-0 lead. Caragao finished with 10 carries for 79 yards.
Senior Connor Hilburn pulled in another interception for the Eagles on the next Venice possession. Hall followed with a 14-yard touchdown run for the final score. Hall finished with eight carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Santa Margarita held Venice to 184 yards of offense.
By OC Varsity
Friday, September 26, 2014
The Orange County Register
