Welch wins big in Small Schools

It didn’t take long for Harry Welch to further solidify his place in Southern California high school football lore.

Welch became the first coach to win two CIF state divisional bowl titles Friday, guiding San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s to a dominating 59-7 victory over Hamilton City Hamilton in the Small Schools Division Bowl at the Home Depot Center.

The Tartans (15-0) took a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, taking advantage of five Hamilton turnovers to set a bowl record for most points in a game (45) in just over 21 minutes. St. Margaret’s running back John Murayama scored a bowl-record five touchdowns en route to a game-high 97 yards rushing in 21 carries.

However, despite his team’s outstanding effort, Welch was the center of attention once the teams cleared the field. The victory marks his ninth championship at the division and bowl level and capped his fifth perfect season as a coach. In addition, it illustrated Welch’s ability to guide both big and small football programs to the top of state competition. Welch won the CIF Division I Bowl with Canyon Country Canyon in 2006.

“To win two [bowls] in three years is more than anyone should expect,” Welch said. “This surpassed anything I ever dream of happening.”

Of course, in true Welch fashion, the veteran coach didn’t make any apologies for allowing his team to run up a 52-0 halftime lead. St. Margaret’s continued to throw the ball throughout the second quarter even though the game was out of reach for Hamilton (10-3). Welch even called a pass with one second left before halftime.

“I’m not going to apologize for throwing a pass in the first half,” Welch said. “People groaned, I understand that, but I don’t look into the stands before I call a play.”

Hamilton Coach Mark Cooley didn’t have a problem with Welch’s tactics.

“I was completely fine with what they did,” Cooley said. “He’s here to win the game and that’s how he called it. Harry showed everyone out there why he’s a legend.”

Welch’s bold nature has played a pivotal role in his success. He won seven division titles during an 18-year split tenure with Canyon before sending shock waves through the Southern California prep football scene with his decision to coach at St. Margaret’s six months after guiding the Cowboys to a bowl victory.

Since joining St. Margaret’s, he has guided the Tartans to 29 consecutive victories and has helped the program build an Orange County-record 43-game winning streak.

“I feel so proud of what this team has accomplished,” Welch said. “I feel so privileged to be a part of these young men’s lives.”

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austin.knoblauch@latimes.com