O'Brien Paces Eagles in Sea View Opener
October 2, 1992 at Saddleback College

Eagles 35 - Sea Kings 14
For months since it had been announced that Santa Margarita would join the Sea View League in 1992, everyone wondered how the team would fare in the new league. Three teams from the league were in the semifinals the previous year and Irvine, The Division II CIF champions, were also added.

The Eagles would get a taste of the league in the opener as they faced undefeated Corona del Mar. It didn't take long, however, for Santa Margarita (4-0, 1-0) to prove it would be a force as they jumped all over the Sea Kings in the first half.

The offense made it look easy as it scored on all four possessions in the first half, and the defense swarmed all over Corona del Mar (3-1, 0-1) to take a 28-0 lead at halftime.

Sean O'Brien was out to make a statement and he almost single-handedly did in the Sea Kings. He scored on a 50-yard run in the opening drive and connected with Ryan Zinn and Brad Finneran for scores in the second quarter.

O'Brien had 105 yards rushing and 194 yards through the air at the intermission as the Eagles outgained the Sea Kings, 347-128.

Corona del Mar came out in the third quarter with a score to cut the lead to 28-7, but the Eagles countered when Chris Tiernan scored his second touchdown of the game on a 31-yard draw play. "He (O'Brien) didn't do anything we didn't see or expect," Sea King Coach Dave Holland said. "He just did them well."

Matt Dempsey's fumble recovery and Derek Yankoff's interception in the end zone stopped Corona del Mar's drives which led to scores. Santa Margarita suffered a huge loss when starting linebacker Tim Sulick went down with a knee injury on the opening kickoff.

Corona del Mar..................00..00..07..07--14
Santa Margarita.................14..14..00..07--35

SM-O'Brien 50 run(kick failed)
SM-Tiernan 2 run(Steenblock pass from O'Brien)
SM-Zinn 78 pass from O'Brien(Korinke kick)
SM-Brad Finneran 35 pass from O'Brien(Korinke kick)
CdM-Hess 5 pass from Evans(Rupp kick)
SM-Tiernan 31 run(Korinke kick)
CdM-Hess 5 run(Rupp Kick)

Leading Rushers-O'Brien 12-102, Tiernan 9-76
Leading Passers-O'Brien 12-18-0, 222, .666%, 2 TD
Leading Receivers-Brad Finneran 4-70, Brian Finneran 3-77
Defense: Tiernan 11 tackles; Yankoff 3 tackles, 1 int; Gillessie 8 tackles; Bri. Finneran 7 tackles, 1 KD

Orange County Football Top Ten

1. Esperanza.............4-0
2. Los Alamitos..........4-0
3. Servite...............3-0-1
4. Rancho Alamitos.......3-1
5. Santa Margarita.......4-0
6. Trabuco Hills.........4-0
7. Irvine................3-1
8. Mater Dei.............3-0-1
9. Mission Viejo.........3-1
10. Sunny Hills..........4-0