SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The dissolution of the Academy League left No. 25 St. Margaret’s and Brethren Christian without a league and a league championship to play for, but it didn’t sap the teams’ competitive desire.
In fact, it may have led to their most important game in the rivalry’s history and an instant classic.
Brethren Christian overcame a 15-point second-half deficit and converted a two-point conversion in double overtime to beat St. Margaret’s, 50-49, for the first time since 2004 in a nonleague game at St. Margaret’s High on Friday.
“It’s amazing, that’s what it is,” Brethren Christian quarterback Joey Gutierrez said. “I can’t really explain it.”
In double overtime, St. Margaret’s (7-2) took the lead, 49-42, after quarterback George Krantz converted two sneaks on fourth-and-inches and at the goal line for the touchdown.
Brethren Christian (8-1) acted quickly with a 17-yard pass to Nathan Sagastume to the goal line. Raimon Sagastume converted the 1-yard run for the touchdown to set up the pivotal call.
“We’ve been wanting to run that for eight weeks,” Warriors coach Pat McInally said.
Brethren Christian lined up for the extra point. Holder Nathan Sagastume took the ball, rolled right and lofted a touch pass to his brother, Raimon, for the two-point conversion and the win.
“Best feeling in the world,” Nathan said. “Every year we came up close on them. This year, we just had to do it. We had to.”
Nathan Sagastume caught eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Gutierrez overcame three interceptions to finish 25 of 38 for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
With the county’s No. 2 rusher, Jordan Leonard, out with injury for Brethren Christian, Levon Lester ran 17 times for 153 yards and a TD.
St. Margaret’s Ryan Cragun had 10 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns.