RIVERSIDE – Santa Margarita got a safety six seconds into its nonleague game against ML King of Riverside on Thursday night, and junior running back Chad Magyar added three touchdowns a little later as the Eagles rolled to a 44-14 victory, their fourth in a row.
Magyar finished with 151 yards on 20 carries and fellow junior Malone Mataele scored on two second-quarter punt returns as the Eagles took a 30-0 halftime lead.
The Eagles now have 14 days until facing Mater Dei in their Trinity League opener Oct. 7.
“I think the key is for us is that for the preseason, we’re at 4-1,” said Coach Rich Fisher, whose team is ranked eighth in CIF-SS Division 1. “If you would’ve told us before the season we’d be at 4-1 in preseason, then I think that would’ve been ideal for us.”
The Eagles led, 2-0, after the game’s first play as a center snap for King went out of the end zone for a safety.
Magyar scored on runs of 7 and 5 yards in the first quarter to give the Eagles a 16-0 lead against the Wolves (1-3).
Mataele returned punts for 58 and 50 yards for scores in the second frame, the second of which went up the middle through the King coverage, for a 30-0 lead with 2:36 left in the half.
“He hasn’t had many opportunities – people just don’t kick to him,” Fisher said. “But he’s obviously a dangerous weapon when the ball is in his hands.”
Magyar had a 4-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Santa Margarita senior quarterback Richard Wagner finished 13 of 17 for 172 yards passing.
