SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – St. Margaret’s defense had been stingy to say the least, having held foes to just 7.8 points per game going into Friday night’s Academy League showdown with Brethren Christian.
Faced with the most potent offense it had seen all season, St. Margaret’s was unforgiving in the second half and rallied to defeat Brethren Christian (5-2-1, 1-1), 38-28, at St. Margaret’s High.
The Tartans (7-0, 2-0) overcame a 21-3 deficit to remain unbeaten. St. Margaret’s is in first place, a half-game ahead of Crean Lutheran (5-2, 1-0). The two teams face off Friday at St. Margaret’s High.
Workhorse running back Oscar Gomez rushed 26 times for 241 yards and scored both of his touchdowns in the second half, including a 62-yard dash on the first play of the third quarter to give St. Margaret’s a 24-21 lead.
It was a tale of two halves. Brethren Christian’s Conner Miller passed for 230 yards and three scores before the break, but the Tartans took away the deep pass in the second half. Samuel Harnisch (two) and Preston Ellis combined to intercept three of Miller’s final six passes to decide it.
After Sean McFarland caught a pair of touchdown passes from George Krantz in the last two minutes of the first half, St. Margaret’s continued to roll in the second half. Nick Shanks’ 59-yard touchdown reception gave St. Margaret’s a two-score edge with 9:40 remaining.
In the first half, Brethren Christian’s passing game, primarily Miller and Guy Demazeliere had the better of the play. They hooked up for nine completions covering 154 yards and two TDs before the half.
