The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 299

LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1997 C1 3 SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSfflPS Santa Margarita Wins War With Tustin Prep Football Update DIVISION mm mm Santa Margarita vs. Tustin (MID 0(B CsAi SECOND QUARTER Tustin 20, Santa Margarita 14 Foster 31 -yard run at 11:53. 80-yard drive, four plays. Key gain-Foster, 28 run. PAT Run failed.

Santa Margarita 2 1, Tustin 20 Minardi 46-yard pass from Palmer on fourth down and three at 10:41. 70-yard drive, seven plays. Key play Minardi, 17-yard pass from Palmer on third and 10 from the Santa Margarita 30. PAT Sparks (kick). Santa Margarita 28, Tustin 20 Wolfsberger 1-yard run at 2:25.

77-yard drive, 13 plays. Key gains Minardi, 21-, 19-yard passes from Palmer. PAT Sparks (kick). Santa Margarita 31, Tustin 20 Sparks 42-yard field goal at 0:00. 59-yard drive, eight plays.

Key play Pass interference on Malcom on fourth and 12 at Tustin 25-yard line. i With county rushing records broken for a single game, a single season and a career, 1997 was a season perhaps unparralleld for county running backs. Here are some of the imprints left on the record books during the season past: ORANGE COUNTY 1. Michael Jones 7,190 Laguna Hills, 1995-97 2. DeShaun Foster Tustin, 1995-97 5,808 3.

Ray Pallares Valencia, 1983-85 5,397 4. Reuben Droughns 4,887 Anaheim, 1993-95 5. Derek Brown Servite, 1986-88 4,878 6. Bryant Wolfsberger 4,875 Capistrano Valley Christian, 1995-96 Santa Margarita, 1997 7. LeoKosi 4,873 RanchoAlamitos, 1994-96 Scott Seal Irvine, 1990-92 4,573 SOUTHERN SECTION 1.

David Dotson 7,257 Moreno Valley Valley View, 1989-91 2. Michael Jones 7,190 Laguna Hills, 1995-97 3. George Keiaho 6,615 Ventura Buena, 1990-93 4. Russell White 5,998 EncinoCrespl, 1986-88 5. Eliel Swinton 5,904 Van Nuys Montclair Prep, 1990-92 ORANGE COUNTY 1.

DeShaun Foster Tustin, 1997 3,398 2. Michael Jones Laguna Hills, 1997 2,684 3. MikeMcNair Mater Dei, 1997 2,678 4. Jeff By rd 2,596 RanchoAlamitos, 1992 5. Brendan McGraw 2,511 Laguna Hills, 1994 6.

Charles Chatman 2,500 Costa Mesa, 1994 7. LeoKosi 2,444 RanchoAlamitos, 1996 8. Michael Jones 2,350 Laguna Hills, 1995 ORANGE COUNTY 1. Paul Caffrey 422 Heritage Christian vs. Sherman Oaks Buckley, 1997 2.

Jim deed 418 Dana Hills vs. Laguna Hills, 1979 3. Charles Chatman 414 Costa Mesa vs. Aliso Niguel, 1994 4. DeShaun Foster 378 Tustin vs.

Santa Margarita, 1997 5. Michael Jones 369 Laguna Hills vs. La Mirada, 1997 "fW -Htm tm Prep football: Palmer leads Eagles to Division title with 5542 victory. The Tillers' Foster scores six touchdowns in loss. By PAUL McLEOD TIMES STAFF WRITER FULLERTON All week long there was talk about what a blowout the Southern Section Division football championship game was going to be.

At Santa Margarita, Coach Jim Hartigan believed his team had just too many weapons for its opponent, Tustin, to handle. Tustin from Coach Myron Miller just hoped to keep the game close. As it turned out, both sides were right. Santa Margarita won its second consecutive title with a 55-42 victory in front of 7,500 at Cal State Fullerton. But the game was even closer than the wild score indicated thanks to a gutty effort by the Tillers, who made the Eagles work for every bit of their 25th consecutive victory.

The teams combined to gain 1,062 total yards, thanks in part to a Santa Margarita school-record 588 yards. Santa Margarita scored on all but one of its nine possessions. Senior quarterback Carson Palmer of Santa Margarita passed for 413 yards and five touchdowns, including a 46-yarder to John Minardi that brought the Eagles back from a 20-14 deficit He ran for another score. When Nick Sparks kicked the extra point, the Eagles led for good, 21-20. They needed just about every point they could get because Tus-tin's offensive line was ripping big holes for running back DeShaun Foster.

Foster, a senior, ran for six touchdowns and 378 yards on 32 carries, bringing his season-ending total to 3,398 yards. He scored on runs of 25, 25, 31, 10, 14 and one yards. Palmer was equally brilliant. He completed 19 of 30 passes and had touchdown tosses of 25, 42, 46, 11 and 25 yards. Orlando caught five passes for 115 yards, John Minardi caught six for 124 and Mike O'Gorman caught five for 127.

"They just outmanned us," Tus-tin's Miller said "I'm very happy to be in the finals with this team. I'm not depressed at all." Hartigan, who earlier in the week indicated that he felt his team was more diverse than any Tustin had faced this season, com-' plimented the Tillers, many of whom were pushed to exhaustion during the second half. "Tustin is a great team," he said. "But this is a great feeling. Palmer had a phenomenal game.

"But that Foster was phenomenal, too," he said. "He got knocked down, banged up and he kept getting up and coming back at us." Tustin took the early lead and raised a few eyebrows by taking the opening kickoff and marching 80 yards, with Foster getting all but 11 yards of the drive, including his 25-yard touchdown run. The teams alternated scores after that, with Palmer throwing touchdown passes to O'Gorman and Minardi, while Tustin countered with another 25-yard score from Foster. Foster's third score made it 20-14. But that's when Palmer went to work, engineering a seven-play, 70-yard drive capped DAVID KAWASHIMA For The Times Ian Banigan of Santa Margarita goes over Tustin defender Brandon Malcom to catch pass.

Ball fell incomplete, but there was a penalty. by the touchdown to Minardi. Later a Bryant Wolfsberger 1-yard run and 42- and 22-yard field goals by Nick Sparks gave the Eagles a 34-20 lead. Santa Margarita was determined to keep Foster in check in the second half, but that was nearly impossible. "He's the best back I ever faced," said Minardi, also a defensive back, who was voted the Sea View League most valuable defensive player.

"It was a real challenge." A one-yard run by Wolfsberger gave Santa Margarita a 28-20 lead and Sparks' 42-yard field goal as time ran out in the half made it 31-20. But Foster made it 34-26 on his fourth touchdown, a 10-yard run with 2:51 left in the third quarter. An 11 -yard pass to Minardi for a touchdown a minute and a half later and then Palmer's one-yard plunge with 6:46 left in the game made it 48-26. Despite being hobbled by cramps, Foster set up his 14-yard TD run with a 39-yard carry on Tustin's next possession. Palmer countered with a 25-yard touchdown toss to O'Gorman and then Foster had a 47-yard run that set up his one-yard scoring run two plays later.

Past Yucaipa, 36-20 yards, scored the Thunderbirds' first touchdown. Yucaipa quarterback Rich Hof-man threw two touchdown passes but completed only eight of 25 passes. fnusrsrnip 2 ADMISSION Before 6pm M-Th Sat 12 PRICE JUMISSIOM After 6pm Tues Thuis 8 ADMISSION DRINKS Ciiiv4au coupon exp 12-21-97 OPEN til 4am Fit Sat $2 Drlnta all night Sun FREE wraid ADM M-F12NOON-2PM i Aft Wj' "'TIEfe'- I Pawl Mow md ate MO FM Trad andl Iffimfn HEW yard drive, seven plays. Key play Wolfsberger 21 -yard run on on first down to the Tustin 1. PAT Sparks (kick).

Santa Margarita 48, Tustin 34 Foster 14-yard run at 4:49. 59-yard drive, four plays. Key gains-Foster, 39-yard run. PAT Williams (pass from Scott). Santa Margarita 55, Tustin 34 O'Connor 25-yard pass from Palmer at 3:28.

42-yard drive, four plays. Key gains O'Connor, 31-yard pass from Palmer. PAT- Sparks (kick). Santa Margarita 55, Tustin 42 Foster 1-yard run at 1:16. 53-yard drive, five plays.

Key play-Foster, 47-yard run. PAT Scott (run). 1 3 0 28 0 Receiving SMargarlta Rec Yds TD Minardi 6 124 2 5 127 2 Orlando 5 115 1 Beckner 2 43 0 Curtis 1 3 0 Totals 19 412 5 Tustin Rec Yds TD. Foster 1 28 0 Totals 1 28 0 Interceptions Santa Margarita: None; Tustin: None. Attendance: 7,500.

DIVISION VII CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST QUARTER Tustin 6, Santa Margarita 0 Foster, 25-yard run at 8:45. 80-yard drive, eight plays. PAT kick railed. Santa Margarita 7, Tustin 6 Orlando, 25-yard pass from Palmer at 4:09. 77-yard drive, 12 plays.

Key play Palmer, 5 run on fourth and one from the Santa Margarita 44; Minardi, 9 pass from Palmer on third and seven from the Tustin 34. PAT Sparks (kick). Tustin 14, Santa Margarita 7 Foster 25-yard run at 2:09. 70- yard drive, six plays. Key gain Williams, 16 run.

PAT Scott (run). Santa Margarita 14, Tustin 14 I O'Gorman 42-yard pass from i Palmer at 0:54. 65-yard drive, four i plays. Key gain Wolfsberger, 19 run. PAT Sparks (kick).

-7T7TTT THIRD QUARTER Santa Margarita 34, Tustin 20 Sparks 22-yard field goal at 9:44. 60-yard drive, six plays. Key play Brooks, 30-yard pass from Palmer. Santa Margarita 34, Tustin 26 Foster 10-yard run at 2:51. 80-yard drive, 14 plays.

Key play-Foster, 28-yard pass from Scott at Santa Margarita 14. PAT run failed. Santa Margarita 41, Tustin 26 Minardi, 11 -yard pass from at 1:16. 68-yard drive, four plays. Key play Orlando, 46-yard pass from Palmer at Tustin 22.

PAT Sparks (kick). FOURTH QUARTER Santa Margarita 48, Tustin 26 Palmer 1-yard run at 6:46. 47- Rushing SMargarlta Att Yds TD 20 105 1 Palmer, 9 19 1 Totals 29 124 2 Tustin Att Yds TD Foster 32 378 6 Williams 7 67 0 Little 7 27 0 Scott. 1 4 0 Malcolm 1 2 0 Totals 48 478 6 Passing SMargarlta PA PC Int Yds TD Palmer 19 30 0 412 5 19 30 0 412 5 Tustin PA PC Int Yds TD Scott 1 3 0 28 0 Eagle Wide Football: Santa Margarita's Minardi, Orlando and O'Gorman each gain at least 100 yards in victory over Tustin. By STEVE KRESAL TIMES STAFF WRITER FULLERTON-Santa Margarita's wide receivers weren't sure what defense Tustin was playing at times, but for the most part it really didn't matter.

Some said it was man-to-man but Greg Orlando said at times it looked like some weird zone where a defender would just sprint away from him. One thing was certain: Whatever Tustin tried, it was no match for the Eagles. Three members of the receiver corps senior John Minardi and juniors Orlando and Mike O'Gorman had at least 100 yards in receiving as Santa Margarita won its second consecutive Southern Section Division title with a 55-42 victory over Tustin at Cal State Fullerton. "All the receivers did a phenomenal job of catching the ball," said Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan. "We had to bring that offense here to win this game.

Thank God we didn't stall on any drives." Bloomington Runs Bloomington High won its third CIF Division VII title in four seasons, defeating Yucaipa, 36-20, before a capacity crowd of more than 7,000 fans at Yucaipa. Bloomington senior Montise Mallory ran for 142 yards and scored three touchdowns, and senior Jesse Hernandez ran for 111 yards. Bloomington rolled up 384 yards of offense and held Yucaipa senior running back Alan Taylor to 51 yards in 18 carries. Taylor, who rushed for a school-record 2,713 the game with 32 receptions. He had catches of 46 and 32 yards in the game and his 32-yard touchdown catch tied the score, 14-14, with 54 seconds left in the first quarter.

"We knew we were the better team and we took the championship)," Orlando said. "We knew we had to score on every possession because of their offense." Receivers Form a Century Club 1 714-736-9833 SH 96 IfULLERTON REDONOO BEACH IOMO BEACH I 714-447-1784 310-371-5003 562-938-8500 aiVConinonMllli aagi 30flOWoodfuH Slfl A that gave Santa Margarita a 55-34 lead. He had a 35-yard reception a play earlier in the drive when he took a 10-yard out pattern and broke a tackle for a big gain. O'Gorman came into the game with 12 catches for 168 yards and one touchdown. Orlando was the last member to join the century club, catching five passes for 115 yards.

He came into HAIR -110 SURPRISES! MMUiiMun uxne meet our patients ana see the trVTOriihlo rociiltc fnr uniircolf '5 PER 0 FINANCING AVAILABLE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION: 1.800.NEW.HAIR 800-639-4247 310-553-6790 www neuter com Minardi, who came into the game with 64 receptions for 1,345 yards and 17 touchdowns, added six catches for 124 yards. He also had two touchdown passes, including the one that put Santa Margarita ahead for good early in the second quarter. The Eagles trailed, 20-14, and faced fourth down and three at the Tustin 46. After a timeout, Hartigan sent his offense out in favor of the punting team. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw an interior screen to Minardi, who was cutting back to the middle of the field along the line of scrimmage.

Minardi, who has committed to Colorado, caught the ball and followed a couple of strong blocks that led him to the wide open middle of the field. He then raced to the end zone and Santa Margarita started to take control. "Carson threw perfect passes to all the receivers," Minardi said. "It was just a huge night." Minardi's second touchdown pass was good for 11 yards and put Santa Margarita ahead, 41-26, with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Matt O'Gorman added five catches for 127 yards but didn't go over the 100-yard mark until late in the game.

It was his 25-yard touchdown reception with 3:28 left in the game Over 12,000 employment listings every week. Get The Times. i 8admS4WKtwPrcoamwraiHinmafl I to'm oo aiwoved credit Professional servwes provided by affiliated LOS ANGELES OPEN HOUSE Wed, Jan 7 p.m. NmHaJrlMlftu 9911 Wtst Pit RSVP. Catt tor trim (Mm km GRAFT 1LJ1NEW HAIR OAInanoraawalor6nonNi New Ht'f Institute Medtcat Groups II UINSTITUTE alone.

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