Eagles 36 - JSerra 35
Eagles Triumph over JSerra Courtesy of a 2-Point Conversion
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA., October 27, 2017 – Much like this year’s World Series, last week’s football game between JSerra and Santa Margarita had heightened drama throughout the entire game, all the way down to the waning seconds. It’s not often that a game so hyped lives up to the bill, but last week’s showdown between the Lions (7-2, 2-2) and the Eagles (6-3, 2-2) is one that will be talked about for years.
In terms of numbers, this game was very evenly balanced between the two teams. Offensively, Josiah Norwood connected on 12 of 25 passes (48%) for 188 yards and a touchdown. Matt Robinson of JSerra completed 15 of 27 passes (56%) for 203 yards, a touchdown and an interception. On the ground, the Eagles’ Chad Magyar ran like a man possessed, carrying the ball 24 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns, 80 of which came from one run. JSerra’s Eli Jefferson would carry the ball 18 times for 227 yards as well, three touchdowns, with one run good for 73 yards. Through the air, Malone Mataele had a game-high 115 of the teams 188 yards with a touchdown in the air and one on the ground. JSerra’s Tarik Luckett and Tyler Shimomura had 99 and 88 of their teams 203 yards. What was unbalanced however was reflected in the penalty column, where a disciplined Eagle team had eight total penalties for 75 yards, as opposed to JSerra being flagged for 15 personal fouls, good for 175 free yards. The Eagles would remain cool and calm throughout the entire game, even when they found themselves trailing 33-28 with just two minutes to go in the game. On their final offensive possession, the Eagles would manufacture an economical drive, taking the ball down to the JSerra four yard line where junior Jake Thomas would punch it in to make the score 35-34 in favor of JSerra with just 30-seconds remaining in the game.
Decision time for the Eagle coaching staff became, do you take the sure tie with Dylan Brady kicking an extra point, or do you roll the dice and go for the win on the road in a crucial Trinity league game. With full confidence in the offense, the Eagles opted for the win. Josiah Norwood would roll out to his right before throwing back across to the far end of the end zone where a wide open Jake Peters was waiting to haul in the game-winning two-point conversion to put the Eagles up 36-35. JSerra however would get their chances with 30-seconds left in the game, until senior Quentin Buchman sealed the road-win with an interception, his third of the season but without a doubt his most memorable.
This win moved the Eagles into sole possession of 3rd place in the Trinity league behind Mater Dei (9-0, 4-0) and St. John Bosco (7-2, 3-1), but ahead of JSerra (7-2, 2-2), Servite (6-3, 1-3) and tonight’s opponent Orange Lutheran (5-4, 0-4). Tonight’s game against the Lancers will be the final game of the regular season and finally, a home game for the Eagles. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm at Trabuco Hills High School.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 36 |
| JSerra | 7 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 35 |
SM – Mataele 15 run (Brady kick)
JS – Robinson 1 run (Haggard kick)
SM – Mataele 54 pass from Norwood (Brady Kick)
JS – Jefferson 73 run (Haggard kick)
JS – Shimomura 25 pass from Robinson (Haggard kick)
JS – Jefferson 37 run (Haggard kick failed)
SM – Magyar 80 run (Brady kick)
SM – Magyar 36 run (Brady kick)
JS – Jefferson 4 run (Luckett pass from Robinson)
SM – Thomas 3 run (Peters pass from Norwood)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: JS - Jefferson 18-227; SM - Magyar 24-227
Passing: JS - Robinson 15-27-1-203; SM - Norwood - 12-25-0-188
Receiving: JS - Luckett 7-99, Shimomura 6-88; SM - Mataele 3-115, Ebach 3-35
Sean Zeitler
Sports Information Director
Santa Margarita pulls off stunning comeback to knock off JSerra
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Santa Margarita won the Trinity League thriller this time.
Tight end Jake Peters caught a 2-point conversion from Josiah Norwood with 30 seconds left to punctuate a 3-yard touchdown run by Jake Thomas as the visiting No. 4 Eagles stunned No. 3 JSerra 36-35 to take the inside track on third place in the powerhouse CIF-SS Division 1 league.
Last week, Santa Margarita (6-3, 2-2) almost upset defending Division 1 and state champion St. John Bosco, losing 40-38. But on Friday, defensive back Quentin Buchman sealed Santa Margarita’s biggest victory of the season with a diving interception with 13 seconds left near midfield.
But it was the bold decision by Santa Margarita coach Rich Fisher to go for the 2-point conversion and the victory that provided the Eagles’ signature moment.
The Eagles called timeout before conversion and then sent a tight end and running back in motion before Norwood threw back to his left to a wide open Peters who made an easy, two-handed grab. Peters appeared to break free from the slot.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I was going for two. No doubt,” Fisher told his team afterward. “I’m so … proud of you.It is so hard to win.”
JSerra defenders Victor Clanton and Shawn Nielsen said JSerra studied the conversion play in film leading up to the game. The Lions spotted the play in the Santa Margarita’s game against Mater Dei but Eagles’ execution was flawless.
Thomas’ only carry of the game cut JSerra’s lead to 35-34 but it was running back Chad Magyar who carried the Eagles on their game-winning, 80-yard scoring drive that featured 14 plays.
Magyar, a UNLV commit who finished with 223 yards and two TDs on 24 carries, broke a 10-yard run to the 5 to setup the Thomas’ TD. Earlier in the drive, Magyar had four consecutive carries to move the ball from the Santa Margarita 32 to the JSerra 30.
Norwood also sparked the drive with picking up the first third-down conversion with a completion to Mark Eaton.
Penalties again hurt JSerra, including the Eagles’ winning drive. Santa Margarita faced a fourth-and-1 at the Lions 30 and coming out of a timeout, got JSerra to jump offside.
The Lions finished with 15 penalties for 174 yards; Santa Margarita had eight for 75.
JSerra (7-2, 2-2) took a 35-28 lead on Eli Jefferson’s 4-yard TD run with 5:30 left in the fourth and a tough 2-point conversion reception by Tarik Luckett from Matt Robinson.
Jefferson, filling in for the injured Al Fisher (ankle), rushed for 231 yards and three TDs on 19 carries.
JSerra opened a 27-14 lead early in the third quarter on a 38-yard touchdown by Jefferson on fourth-and-1. The extra-point failed.
The Lions’ defense then held deep in its territory, forcing a Santa Margarita fumble out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.
But after JSerra missed a 37-yard field field goal, Magyar got on a roll. He broke an 80-yard touchdown run on the next play with 4:15 left in the third and later added a 33-yard score as Santa Margarita grabbed a 28-27 lead early in the fourth.
JSerra took a 21-14 lead at halftime on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to Tyler Shimomura with 26 seconds left in the second quarter.
Robinson’s strike to a wide open Shimomura in the end zone capped a swift five-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the final 2:19 of the half. Robinson went 4 for 4 on the drive, including a 45-yard connection to Shimomura.
The score snapped a brief offensive drought for both teams. Both teams scored on their first two possessions but the defenses then dominated.
Santa Margarita opened the game with a 16-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Malone Mataele punctuated the march with a 5-yard TD run.
JSerra responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that Robinson ended with a 1-yard dive over the top for a touchdown.
Norwood attacked through the air on Santa Margarita’s next possession. The senior tossed a 54-yard bomb that Mataele, a Utah commit, caught in stride early in the second quarter.
JSerra answered with its own big play, a slick 73-yard touchdown run by Jefferson that tied the score, 14-14.
Next week, JSerra plays host to St. John Bosco (3-1 in league) while Santa Margarita plays host to Orange Lutheran (0-4) at Trabuco Hills High.
“Our work is not done,” Fisher said.
By Dan Albano
Friday, October 27, 2017
The Orange County Register
