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  • Santa Margarita fans celebrate a first-quarter touchdown against Crespi on...

    Santa Margarita fans celebrate a first-quarter touchdown against Crespi on Friday in Encino.

  • Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet is tackled during the...

    Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet is tackled during the second half of their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener against Crespi on Friday night in Encino.

  • A Santa Margarita cheer team member laughs as her team's...

    A Santa Margarita cheer team member laughs as her team's mascot dances to music during Friday's Pac-5 Division playoff game against Crespi in Encino.

  • Crespi running back Torrance Brumfield puts a move on Santa...

    Crespi running back Torrance Brumfield puts a move on Santa Margarita defensive back Metro Malasavage before darting into the end zone for a first-half touchdown during their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener Friday night.

  • Santa Margarita fans enjoy Friday's playoff game against Crespi in...

    Santa Margarita fans enjoy Friday's playoff game against Crespi in Encino.

  • Santa Margarita wide receiver Noah Rasheed is is brought down...

    Santa Margarita wide receiver Noah Rasheed is is brought down from behind by Crespi cornerback Zari Leacockafter a short completion during the second half of their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener Friday night.

  • Santa Margarita fans check out the action during Friday's CIF-SS...

    Santa Margarita fans check out the action during Friday's CIF-SS first-round playoff game against Crespi in Encino.

  • Crespi running back Jalen Starks powers through Santa Margarita defenders...

    Crespi running back Jalen Starks powers through Santa Margarita defenders during the second half of Crespi's CIF-SS playoff game win.

  • Santa Margarita tail back Dre Hall is is brought down...

    Santa Margarita tail back Dre Hall is is brought down from behind by Crespi linebacker Dj Beavers after a long run during the first half of Friday's CIF-SS playoff game in Encino.

  • Crespi running back Torrance Brumfield leaps over Santa Margarita defensive...

    Crespi running back Torrance Brumfield leaps over Santa Margarita defensive back Metro Malasavage during the first half of their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener Friday night.

  • Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet takes off for a...

    Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet takes off for a touchdown during the first quarter of Friday's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener against Crespi in Encino.

  • Crespi quarterback Weston Massett is chased by Santa Margarita defenders...

    Crespi quarterback Weston Massett is chased by Santa Margarita defenders on a quarterback keeper during the first half of their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener Friday night.

  • Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet is congratulated by teammate...

    Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet is congratulated by teammate Will Sorenson after scoring a second-quarter touchdown during Friday's CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener against Crespi in Encino.

  • Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello passes while teammate Connor Hilburn...

    Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello passes while teammate Connor Hilburn blocks Crespi defender Torrance Brumfield during the second half of their CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff opener Friday night.

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Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ENCINO – You couldn’t have asked for a better start if you were a member of the Santa Margarita football team in Friday’s CIF-SS Pac-5 Division first-round game.

On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback KJ Costello rolled out and found Kyle Sweet for an 80-yard touchdown.

But after that brief moment of jubilation, everything turned against the visiting Eagles (6-5).

Crespi of Encino (9-1) scored on its first four possessions and never looked back, racing to a 45-13 victory. The Celts, coached by former Servite coach Troy Thomas, will host Long Beach Poly in the second round.

“Things sort of unraveled after that,” Santa Margarita coach Rick Curtis said. “It is unfortunate we end this way because we had a great season. They’re a good football team, but we just didn’t play our best game.

“The penalties killed us in the first half and it continued in the second half. We knew there was some stuff that they did and we warned the officials about it, but it kind of turned on us. We lost our poise in the first half and that killed us.”

The Celts didn’t need all of the help that Eagles gave them. Santa Margarita was hit with 16 penalties for 168 yards.

Crespi’s TJ Brumfield rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns. The Celts gained nearly 400 yards on the ground.

“It is difficult because you don’t see it all the time,” Curtis said of Crespi’s veer offense. “It was the first time we saw it all year. We had trouble with it and they ran some counter which they hadn’t done before. That hurt us several times. We missed some tackles. They have good running backs and great offensive line and it is tough to come back on a team like that.”

The Eagles tried to fight their way back into the game late in the second on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Costello to Sweet. They missed the extra point and trailed 28-13.

However, Crespi worked its way down the field diligently, leading to a 30-yard field goal from Cristian Bianchi for a 31-13 lead at halftime.

“We knew that if we didn’t get pressure on this kid (Costello), that he could light us up,” Thomas said. “On the first play, we didn’t get any pressure. After that, we got some hits on him and that was something that we definitely had to do.”

While Thomas and Celts are moving on, Curtis said there are positives to take from the season, his first as coach, but there is still work to be done.

“We have to build on this year,” Curtis said. “There are a lot of areas that we have to improve on, so we will build on that and have a great off-season and get ready for next year … it will start pretty soon.”

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com