Eagles 29 - JSerra 28
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 7, 2022 – After a devastating loss at Orange Lutheran to open the Trinity League schedule, where they won the statistical battle, Santa Margarita Catholic found themselves in the same boat when hosting JSerra Catholic. The Eagles amassed 341 yards of offense in the first half, including 341 passing, but after a big first quarter and quite second, the two teams were knotted at 21-21 at half.
After surrendering a touchdown in the third and falling behind 28-21, SMCHS manufactured the eventual game-winning drive three minutes in the fourth quarter. Taurian Nash pushed through the line on a one-yard dive for the score. Eagles Coach Anthony Rouzier had a decision to make. With two PAT attempts blocked last game and one already on the night, he chose to go for two. The gutsy call paid off as QB Jaxon Potter threaded the needle and completed a strike to Kyle Brody to give SMCHS a 29-28 lead and ultimately the victory.
Potter was 37-of-44 (84.1%) for 416 yards and two touchdowns. He broke his own school record for completions in a game and registered his third career 400-plus yard effort. Receiver Emmett Mosley hauled in 14 receptions for 155 yards -- a career high and one touchdown. The 14 catches is tied for second in school history. The pair each enjoyed one of he best statistical games in school history.
Potter
- Passed the 400-yard plus passing yardage threshold for the third time in career (second of the season). Only the tenth 400-yard plus game in school history. Now ranks just one game behind all-time leader K.J. Costello.
- Broke his own school record for pass completions in a single game with 37.
Mosley
- Hauled in 14 pass receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown. The 14 catches are tied for second-most in a single game in school history.
The defense was able to make plays and hold upstart JSerra down for the triumph on Homecoming Night. They stood with LB Jacob Bower collecting 15 tackles (2 for loss) and an interception. LeVar Talley notched a sack, while defensive backs Donovan Comestro and Blake Wilson each had 11 tackles. Ben Durham had multiple tackles for a loss.
The Eagles look to raise their league mark to 2-1 as they host Servite in the second of three home contests in a row. No. 1 Mater Dei follows.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 29 |
| JSerra | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
SM – Lopez 10 pass from Potter (Schuster kick)
JS – Perez 10 run (Daly kick)
SM – Nash 2 run (Schuster kick blocked)
JS – Olander 8 pass from Singh (Daly kick)
SM – Mosley 6 pass from Potter (Lopez pass from Potter)
JS – Chaney 83 kick return (Daly kick)
JS – Blythe 5 pass from Singh (Daly kick)
SM – Nash 1 run (Brody pass from Potter)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Nash 7-21; JS - Perez 26-83, Garbourei 6-54
Passing: SM - Potter 37-45-0- 412; JS - Singh 12-16-1-159
Receiving: SM - E. Mosley 14-152, Eiseman 5-85; JS - Jornadal 3-61, Perez 2-46
Summary by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
Santa Margarita football tops JSerra in back-and-forth Trinity League battle
MISSION VIEJO – Santa Margarita snapped a two-game losing streak Friday with a 29-28 win over JSerra in a Trinity League game at Saddleback College.
The eventual game-winning drive came early in the fourth quarter. Taurian Nash capped a 7-minute, 60-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Jaxon Potter completed a pass to Kyle Brody to convert a 2-point attempt to give the Eagles a 29-28 lead with just over 9 minutes remaining in the game.
Santa Margarita (5-2, 1-1) had two extra points blocked last week against Orange Lutheran and one blocked Friday. Those mishaps led the Eagles to attempt two 2-point conversions Friday which was the difference in the game.
Potter, who began his high school career at JSerra, had a school-record 35 completions for 393 yards with two touchdown passes. His top receiver Emmett Mosley caught 14 passes for 156 yards with a touchdown.
The score was tied at halftime despite a large statistical discrepancy between the two schools. Potter had 319 yards passing in the first half and Mosley had 143 yards. The Eagles had 341 yards of total offense in the first half compared to 128 for JSerra.
Santa Margarita scored first on a 13-yard pass from Potter to Niko Lopez to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
JSerra (3-4, 0-2) responded on the next drive with a 10-yard touchdown run by George Perez to tie the game at seven.
Perez, a sophomore, ran for 84 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown.
After a 50-yard pass from Potter to Mosley, Nash scored on a 2-yard run. The extra point was blocked by the Lions’ Dallas White and the Eagles took a 13-7 lead.
JSerra quarterback Zander Singh threw a touchdown pass to Axel Olander to give JSerra a 14-13 lead. Singh completed 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Potter threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Mosley and then converted a 2-point attempt on a pass to Lopez to put Santa Margarita back in front 21-14.
Clarence Chaney returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a JSerra touchdown to go into halftime with the score tied at 21.
JSerra opened the second half with a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by a touchdown pass from Singh to Vance Blyth to give the Lions a 28-21 lead.
The Lions had the ball with two minutes remaining at midfield with a chance to take the lead. Singh fielded a bad snap on fourth down and was tackled in the backfield to seal the win for Santa Margarita.
Jacob Bower had an interception for the Santa Margarita defense. LeVar Talley had a sack and Ben Durham had multiple tackles for a loss.
Jack Munro recovered a fumble for JSerra and Luke Webb had a sack.
Santa Margarita will host Servite Friday, Oct. 14 at Saddleback College.
JSerra will travel to play St. John Bosco on Friday, Oct. 14.
By Michael Huntley
Friday, October 7, 2022
The Orange County Register
