2016 EAGLES

EAGLES END NON-LEAGUE SCHEDULE WITH FOUR STRAIGHT WINS

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA., September 30, 2016 – After dropping the season opener to Mission Viejo, the Eagles have strung together four straight wins to close out their non-league schedule, 4-1. Scoring has been at a premium for the Eagles the past four weeks. Since dropping the season opener to Mission Viejo on August 26th, the Eagles are averaging 44.5 points per game and are holding their opponents to just 23.5 points. Last Friday’s matchup against MLK High School was no different. The Eagles (4-1) once again established their first half dominance as they would go into the half with a 30-0 lead and close out their fourth straight victory by a final score of 44-14. The Eagles were led by the stellar play of juniors Chad Magyar and Malone Mataele, as they managed to score five of the teams’ six touchdowns. Magyar would add to his season totals on the ground, rushing 18 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He would also return a kickoff for 16 yards and had five catches for 52 yards to bring his total yards on the night to 215.

As a spectator, it would behoove you to not look away from the game anytime number 22 steps on the field. A truly remarkable athlete, Malone Mataele had another record setting night for the Eagles’ special teams. Mataele now becomes the only Eagle in school history to return two punts for touchdowns in a single game. His first punt return of 58 yards was considerably longer, as he would start on one side of the field and navigate his way through defenders and work from sideline to sideline before making his way into the end zone virtually untouched. Malone’s second punt return touchdown of the night was a thing of beauty, as he would return the ball 49 yards straight up the middle of the field with King defenders parting like the red sea. It took just six seconds for Mataele to reach the end zone from the 49, but more impressively, it has only taken five games to set or tie six school records.

Malone now owns the record for Most Punt Return Yards in a game (107, vs. King 2016), Most Punt Return Touchdowns in a Game (2, vs. King 2016), and Total Kickoff Return Yards in a game (270, vs. Mission Viejo). Malone is now tied for Most Punt Return Touchdowns in a season (2, Mataele ’16, Maxwell ’05) with five regular season games left to negotiate. Against Mission Viejo, Mataele tied four other Eagles for the most kickoff return touchdowns in a season with two. Malone is also tied for the longest kickoff return of 99 yards against Mission Viejo. This puts Mataele’s name down for a share of six school records, half way through the season.

Senior quarterback Richard Wagner was once again efficient in the pass game, completing 13 of 18 passes (72%) for 161 yards. Junior Johnny McCartan caught four passes for 45 yards, and sophomore Munir McClain caught three passes for 50 yards.

Defensively, Alex Kilander lead the way for the Eagles with 13 total tackles, and the linebacker duo of Caden Fitch and Sean Toohey had 12 and 11 total tackles respectively.

The Eagles are in their bye week and will not play again until they take on the number one team in the county in Mater Dei (5-0) on October 7th at the Santa Ana Bowl to open up the Trinity League season. Mater Dei is currently ranked number one in Division 1, number one in California, and number three nationally according to Max Preps. The Monarchs are outscoring opponents 278-21. The Eagles are currently ranked ninth in Division 1, 15th in California, and 137th in the country while outscoring their opponents 199-112.

Sean Zeitler
Sports Information Director