Bellarmine (San Jose, Calif.) vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)Bellarmine has won 12 consecutive games following its
Week 1 overtime loss to De La Salle (Concord). This is the Bells' second trip to the Division I state bowl game in three seasons. They lost to Oceanside, 24-19, in the 2009 championship game. Senior quarterback
Travis McHugh ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns in a
41-13 blowout of Palo Alto for the CIF Central Coast Section Open Division championship on Dec. 3.
Santa Margarita was a controversial, if not surprising, pick to represent Southern California in Friday's Division I title game at the Home Depot Center (
preview). Proving the power of the Pac-5 Division's stellar reputation, the Eagles (12-2) were chosen ahead of Inland Division champion Vista Murrieta (9-5, with all five losses by forfeit) and Central Section titlist Bakersfield (13-0). Despite having two losses –
the most recent coming Nov. 11 to Trinity League champion Servite (Anaheim) – this is an outstanding Santa Margarita team. Led by legendary coach Harry Welch (who now has nine CIF-SS titles with three different teams), the Eagles are
ranked second in the state according to the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings. Junior quarterback
Johnny Stanton has eclipsed 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards this season.
Mitch Stephens: Santa Margarita 21, Bellarmine 20
Steve Montoya: Bellarmine 20, Santa Margarita 14
Stephen Spiewak: Bellarmine 21, Santa Margarita 20
Kevin Askeland: Bellarmine 35, Santa Margarita 12
Jamie DeMoney: Santa Margarita 27, Bellarmine 24
Travis McHugh and Bellarmine don't throw the ball too often. Against Santa Margarita, it should keep a potent offense off the field.
Photo by Brad Kupper
