History on Santa Margarita’s Side

Tustin’s football team proved itself nearly equal to Santa Margarita’s for much of the game Friday, but in the end the host Tillers couldn’t overcome history in a Southern Section Division VI second-round playoff game.

Santa Margarita beat the host Tillers, 28-19, making it the fourth time in the last four years the Eagles have ended Tustin’s season.

Santa Margarita (9-3) won in the championship game last season, in the first round in 1995 and the third round in 1996.

The Eagles advanced to play Irvine Friday in the semifinals.

“It’s just two good programs,” Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan said, “that play hard against each other. We’ve been lucky to get the upper hand.”

Santa Margarita didn’t gain total control of the game until scoring on a one-yard plunge by quarterback Greg Orlando with 2 minutes 11 seconds left to play.

Matt Froehlich’s extra point gave Santa Margarita a nine-point lead.

The final touchdown was set up by a 39-yard run by senior Spencer McCroskey (131 yards in 12 carries). McCroskey had only 24 yards in four carries in the first half, but had runs of 29, 15 and 10 yards in the second half.

“Because I’m a senior,” McCroskey said, “I was just going out there giving it everything. I didn’t want to look back and have any regrets.”

Tustin’s kicking troubles started early when senior Adam Teschke’s 36-yard field-goal attempt was wide right late in a scoreless first quarter.

Tustin (7-5) took a 6-0 lead midway in the second quarter on a 25-yard pass from David Miller to Mike Burrell but Teschke’s extra point missed wide.

When McCroskey scored on a 20-yard run up the middle and Froehlich made the extra point for a 7-6 lead, the Tillers were playing catch up from then on.

With Santa Margarita leading, 14-6, Tustin’s Branden Malcom, who had 132 yards in 22 carries, scored on an eight-yard run with 7:51 left in the game. But the Tillers’ conversion pass attempt failed.

“The difference in this game when it was close,” Tustin Coach Myron Miller said, “was our kicking game. Our team just didn’t stand up to the test tonight. But I love this team to death, they will never quit on you.”

Tustin proved that when David Little broke a 44-yard run for a touchdown with 3:41 to play and cut the lead to 21-19 with 3:41 left.

But the onside kick didn’t go the required 10 yards and Santa Margarita took over at the Tustin 47 and needed only four plays to score.