Eagles 42 - Los Alamitos 21
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 17, 2021 – On Homecoming Game night, as they took the field for the second half and trailing 14-0, Santa Margarita Catholic had a huge slope to maneuver to get back in the contest versus then No. 7 Los Alamitos. However, the Eagles came out energized and imposed their will on the Griffins. What transpired in the first five minutes of play was a complete shift of momentum as SMCHS scored three touchdowns to take a 21-14 advantage. In all, they would score on their first four offensive possessions and add a defensive score to stun the Griffins, 42-21 -- a homecoming to remember.
QB Jaxon Potter had his coming-out party, throwing four touchdown passes in that second stanza, two each to Niko Lopez and Jalen Jones. Both receivers made several spectacular catches on the night. Lopez has scored a touchdown in each of the Eagles’ first five games. The gritty play of the SMCHS offensive line rewarded Potter with sufficient time to find his open men. For Potter, it was a new career-high for touchdown passes in a single game.
The defense was led by Jacob Bower who intercepted all-everything quarterback Malachi Nelson twice and scooped up a fumble from his hands, as well, and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown. He also registered nine tackles (one for loss). Blake Wilson had an interception and Donovan Comestro contributed four pass defenses. This was, without a doubt, the biggest win for the program in some time. It was also the signature moment in new, young Head Coach Anthony Rouzier’s career. The Eagles have now won three-consecutive Homecoming Games and improved their all-time record to 20-10 (.667) with the victory.
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 0 | 28 | 14 | 42 |
| Los Alamitos | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
LOS – Wills 30 pass from Nelson (McLachlan kick)
LOS – Lemon 45 pass from Nelson (McLachlan kick)
SM – Jones 6 pass from Potter (Teasley kick)
SM – Bower 27 fumble recovery and return (Teasley kick)
SM – Lopez 25 pass from Potter (Teasley kick)
LOS – Dorsey 1 run (McLachlan kick)
SM – Nash 17 run (Teasley kick)
SM – Jones 55 pass from Potter (Teasley kick)
SM – Lopez 32 pass from Potter (Teasley kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Foye 10-68, Nash 6-54, Rivera 5-9
Passing: SM - Potter 23-34-2-280
Receiving: SM - Jones 4-100, Lopez 11-96, Gallegos 3-20
Summary by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
Santa Margarita football knocks off Los Alamitos with second-half comeback
Jaxon Potter throws four touchdown passes over final two quarters
MISSION VIEJO – Nonleague games don’t matter when it comes to league standings.
Santa Margarita’s win over Los Alamitos on Friday might matter when it comes to placing teams in the CIF Southern Section playoff divisions.
Santa Margarita perhaps classified itself as a CIF-SS Division 1 playoff team with its 42-21 win over Los Alamitos at Saddleback College in the final nonleague game for both.
When teams are placed into playoff divisions at the end of the season, a new system in CIF-SS football, Los Alamitos might be a Division 2 team because of its loss Friday.
The Eagles trailed 14-0 at halftime. Their offense got hot early in the third quarter and did not cool down after that, thanks in large part to the offensive line’s excellence. They scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half, and got another one when Jacob Bower returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Santa Margarita (4-1) is No. 5 in the Orange County top 25. No. 3 Los Alamitos took its first loss of the season and is 4-1.
Bower also had an interception. Defensive tackle Hero Kanu had two sacks for the Eagles.
Santa Margarita quarterback Jaxon Potter threw four second-half touchdown passes, two of them to Jalen Jones and and two to Niko Lopez. Freshman running back Taurian Nash scored on a 17-yard run.
Lopez finished with 63 yards receiving on 10 catches, a few of them spectacular. Jones had 102 yards receiving on four receptions.
Los Alamitos quarterback Malachi Nelson passed for two touchdowns, one to running back Gavin Proch and the other to receiver Makai Lemon. Nelson threw for more than 300 yards, but he was intercepted twice and at one point was 0 for 9 passing.
Los Alamitos junior safety Isaiah Dorsey had two interceptions, both in the first half.
Santa Margarita’s game-opening kickoff was an onside kick that the Griffins covered at the 50-yard line. They converted that field position into their first touchdown as Nelson passed to a wide open Porch for a 30-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead three minutes into the first quarter.
Dorsey’s second interception gave Los Alamitos the ball at the Griffins’ 38. Los Alamitos scored on a 44-yard pass from Nelson to Lemon for a 14-0 lead with 10:22 left in the second quarter.
Nelson floated a deep pass to his left, Lemon made the catch between defenders and cut back toward midfield to run unopposed to the end zone.
Both teams have a bye next week. Los Alamitos plays its Sunset League opener Oct. 1 at home against No. 8-ranked Corona del Mar. Santa Margarita plays its Trinity League opener Oct. 1 at JSerra.
By Steve Fryer
Friday, September 17, 2021
The Orange County Register
