EAGLES 38, FOOTHILL 12 (MISSION VIEJO, Oct. 8, 2004) – Santa Margarita used solid efforts on offense, defense and special teams to build a 24-0 fourth quarter lead before coasting a convincing 38-12 win over the Foothill Knights before 4,000 fans on Homecoming. The win avenged a disappointing 35-28 loss the Knights in the 1992 CIF Playoffs an improved the Eagles to 3-2 heading into Serra League play. The loss dropped the Knights to 2-3.

The Eagles wasted little time in taking control of the game. The hosts forced a punt on the Knights opening possession and went on an 11-play drive before it stalled on the visitors 15. Mike Fowle’s 32-yard field goal was missed due to the ball slipping off the tee otherwise it was a relatively mistake free night. Sean Aldridge intercepted a Knight pass on their next possession and this time the Eagles capitalized. Omar Villamar (18 carries for 79 yards) picked up a first down and Ryan Maxwell took a reverse and gained 21 yards before Jon Daniels found Kyle Bryant on a slant for a 14-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead at the 8:14 mark of the second quarter. Aldridge’s sack ended the Knights next drive and a short punt gave the Eagles great field position on the Knight 37. Daniels (10 of 14 for 99 yards) hit Bryant for 14 yards to the 20 and two plays later Russell Hoeflich picked up a first and goal at the nine. Hoeflich then toted the ball three straight times with the last one from two yards out to make it 14-0 with 2:55 remaining in the half. On their next possession the Knights inexplicably went for it on fourth-and-two from their own 44. After getting stuffed the Eagles were victimized by a sack and incomplete pass and had to punt with 1:10 remaining. Matt Steinback picked off a pass and raced 54 yards down the sideline to give the Eagles a first down on the 11 with 37 seconds left. On the very next play Daniels found fellow junior Jacob Gordon (four receptions for 37 yards) for the score to make it 21-0 at the break.