SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The heartache stayed with St. Margaret’s senior class for an entire year.
The memories of losing in last year’s CIF-SS championship game still haunted the Tartans’ players, as they fell just short of their ultimate goal.
Saturday night’s final was a shot at redemption, though, for top-seeded St. Margaret’s and its upperclassmen. They made the most of their opportunity.
Behind a herculean effort from its defensive unit, the Tartans turned three fourth-quarter turnovers into 17 consecutive points in a thrilling 34-21 victory over Grace Brethren of Simi Valley in the East Valley Division final in front of a packed house at St. Margaret’s High.
“It feels great, a complete team effort,” Tartans coach Stephen Barbee said. “This is why we work so hard. We knew we could do it. Defense wins championships, and that’s exactly what we did today.”
St. Margaret’s improved its record to 14-0 – the only unbeaten team in Orange County – and did so by knocking off a Grace Brethren squad that held a 13-0 record headed into the contest.
With the win, the Tartans grabbed their first CIF title since 2009, when the team was coached by Harry Welch, and likely earned a spot in the CIF State regional playoffs. The selections will be announced today.
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Related: St. Margaret’s selected to play in state playoffs
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“We discussed it in our team meeting that we weren’t going to end our season getting a red medal (for second place),” Barbee said. “Everybody came through with what they had to do.”
St. Margaret’s jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on its very first drive of the game on an Oscar Gomez 1-yard touchdown plunge, and later getting a highlight-worthy punt return touchdown from junior Nick Shanks.
After slipping out of three tackles, Shanks turned on the burners and outraced the Lancers kick coverage.
“Nick Shanks is an unbelievable player,” Barbee said. “You give him the ball, he’s one step away from going to the house every single time. They had no answer for him.”
Shanks finished the evening with 39 yards rushing and 91 yards receiving on five catches.
The Tartans offense moved the ball consistently throughout the night, but was never able to punch the ball into the end zone in the second or third quarters. Senior Charlie Beall booted a 37-yard field goal right before the half, and the Tartans took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
The Lancers (13-1) cut the lead to 17-14 midway through the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run from Michael Herwig.
It remained just a three-point game headed into the fourth, when the Tartans defense came alive.
Senior defensive back Fernando Delgado picked off consecutive passes in the opening minutes of the final quarter, and the Tartans offense cashed in on both turnovers.
Shanks scored his second touchdown of the game when he broke a quick pass into a 33-yard score. Minutes later, Gomez added a 21-yard touchdown run. Those scores in addition to another Beall field goal allowed the Tartans to extend their lead to 34-14 with five minutes and change remaining.
“It’s surreal,” Delgado said. “Last year we did lose in the final. But for the seniors, we’ve been together for four long years and we just fought. Finish strong was our motto and we did that in the second half.”
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
