Eagles 63 - MUSTANGS 6
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 9, 2022 – For the preceding 10 days, the thermometer in Southern California hovered around triple-digits. Suddenly, Friday brought a radical turnabout with lower temperatures and constant drizzle or rain showers. After having its game cancelled last week, Santa Margarita Catholic made sure the heat was turned up as they hosted Mullen (Denver). The Eagles were rude hosts as they put a 63-6 shellacking on the outmanned Mustangs on Senior Night.
Literally everyone on the SMCHS roster saw field time. Five different ball carriers scored, including Jake Foye in his first action -- returning from mononucleosis. All-league 310 pound lineman Jalani Liva even got into the act with a one-yard dive. Nine different receivers caught at least one pass from Jaxon Potter and Bekkam Kirtza who combined to go 19-of-21 (90.5%) and threw four touchdowns as nine players registered at least one reception. For Kritza it was his first action as an Eagle after sitting out a period if time after transferring from Fairview (Boulder, Colorado). The smooth sophomore was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 84 yards and one touchdown. The Eagle’s offense registered 23 first-downs on just 38 plays from scrimmage.
The defense was smothering with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Noah Sulick had 2 1/2 sacks, five tackles (three for loss) and one quarterback hurry. Big Collins Acheampong had four tipped passes and two tackles for loss. Matthew Bays notched his first career interception. Sophomore Brock Defries had a blocked punt.
This was the fifth time in program history that SMCHS broke the 60-point threshold and the most since a 61-7 demolishing of Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills) in 2017. A short week is now ahead in preparation for a Thursday game versus No. 9 Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. A week off and grueling Trinity League action starts with No. 13 Orange Lutheran on the road.
| Santa Margarita | 28 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 63 |
| Mullen | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
SM – Foye 17 run (Wilson kick)
SM – Potter 1 run (Wilson kick)
SM – E. Mosley 9 pass from Potter (Wilson kick)
SM – Brody 4 pass from Potter (Schuster kick)
SM – Eiseman 9 pass from Potter (Wilson kick)
SM – Nash 2 run (Schuster kick)
SM – Embree 21 pass from Kritza (Wilson kick)
M – Valdez-Lemos 15 run (pass failed)
SM – Jones 2 run (Wilson kick)
SM – Liva 1 run (Wilson kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - S. Lendsey 6-77, Foye 4-32; M - Valez-Lemos 14-106, Wehmeyer 14-70
Passing: SM - Potter 12-14-0-151, Kritza 7-7-0-84
Receiving: SM - Eiseman 3-62, E. Mosley 3-48, Brown 4-15; M - Donati 3-28, McCarty 2-27
Summary by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
Football Roundup
MISSION VIEJO – No. 3 Santa Margarita 63, Mullen (Colorado) 6: Santa Margarita scored 42 points in the first half in a drubbing of Mullen of Colorado at Saddleback College.
Jaxon Potter completed 12 of 14 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns for the Santa Margarita (3-0). The running game, led by freshman Skylar Lendsey and senior Jake Foye, ran for five touchdowns.
Bain Eiseman led the Eagles in receiving with three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Mosley, Sean Embree and Kyle Brody also caught touchdown passes for Santa Margarita.
Noah Sulick had 2.5 sacks and Collins Acheampong deflected four passes.
Bekkem Kritza, a sophomore quarterback transfer from Fairview, Colorado, made his debut for the Eagles and completed all seven of his pass attempts for 84 yards with a touchdown.
By Michael Huntley
Saturday, September 10, 2022
The Orange County Register
