Damien 25 - Eagles 20 - CIF
LA VERNE, CA., November 19, 1993 – Santa Margarita went into the playoffs with a perfect first round record, but ran into a physical Damien team.
The game turned into a see-saw battle, but it was the Spartans who finished on top at the end, 25-20.
In the previous four years the Eagles had won their first round CIF games, so the loss was a huge blow.
The offense could not get anything going in the first quarter after an intercepted pass at the 10 killed the Eagles' opening drive.
The Spartans used a strong running attack to take a 9-0 lead before SM got rolling.
Allowing the Eagles to throw the ball underneath a soft zone, Derek Yankoff got hot in the second quarter.
He hit Brian Finneran from 14 yards and ran in from 13 yards to put the Eagles ahead 13-9 at intermission.
After a scoreless third quarter Damien pulled ahead on A.J. Blackmore's 1-yard run. A field goal gave the Spartans a 19-13 lead with 5:32 left in the game.
The offense came alive and orchestrated a 12-play, 80-yard drive ending with a five-yard reception by Brian Finneran. Ryan Korinke's PAT, his 43rd in a row, gave SM a 20-19 lead.
It didn't last, however, as Damien's Blackmore scored in two plays after the kickoff to end the Eagles' season with an 8-3 record.
| Damien | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 25 |
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Dam – Romo 11 pass from Fuentes (kick failed)
Dam – Hernandez 18 FG
SM – Bri. Finneran 14 pass from Yankoff (Korinke kick)
SM – Yankoff 13 run (run failed)
Dam – Blackmore 1 run (Hernandez kick)
Dam – Hernandez 29 FG
SM – Bri. Finneran 6 pass from Yankoff (Korinke kick)
Dam – Blackmore 3 run (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Yankoff 8-31, Collins 6-28
Passing: Yankoff 23-42-2, 273, .534%, 2 TD
Receiving: Brian Finneran 14-135, Brad Finneran 7-123
Defense: Brian Finneran 9 tackles, 2 rec. fumbles, Lucas 10 tackles, Brad
Finneran 9 tackles, Collins 9 tackles.
Brian Finneran ended with 14 catches to become OC's all-time receiver
