Eagles hope their season isn't over

ANAHEIM – Santa Margarita has tossed its hat into the ring as a potential CIF State bowl game participant.

The Eagles, who finished second in the Trinity League, wrapped the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division title with a 27-13 victory over San Clemente on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.

This is the first CIF title for Santa Margarita since 1997 when Carson Palmer led the Eagles over DeShaun Foster and Tustin.

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That team didn't have an opportunity to continue playing, this edition does. Santa Margarita will now await the CIF State announcement of the 10 bowl game participants on Sunday at 11 a.m.

"No one played a harder schedule than us the last four, five or even seven weeks," Santa Margarita coach Harry Welch said. "We did it the hard way. So do I think so ... yes."

The bowl games will be played Friday and Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson.

The decision on the Southern California representative in the Division 1 game likely will come down to three teams, Vista Murrieta, the CIF-SS Inland Division champion, Bakersfield, the undefeated champion of the Central Section and the Eagles.

The door to the Division 1 game was opened by Vista Murrieta on Friday night with its victory over Centennial of Corona, 35-28. The Broncos are 14-0 on the field, but they had to forfeit five games this season because of an ineligible player, dropping their record to 9-5.

Westlake, which was ranked No. 1 overall in Southern California, defeated Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, 49-42, in the CIF-SS Northern Division game Friday. The Warriors improved to 14-0 and likely secured a berth in either the Open Division or Division I bowl.

Also up for consideration is Bakersfield (13-0), which defeated Bullard of Fresno to win the Central Section title. No school from the Central Section has been selected for a state bowl game.

Santa Margarita has two losses, to Mater Dei and Servite. However, in the playoffs, the Eagles have gone through Bishop Amat of La Puente, 45-21; Long Beach Poly, 49-16; Mission Viejo, 21-20; and now the Tritons.

"I trust that CIF will do the right thing and we will accept whatever they do," Welch said. "We have no axe to grind, we're happy and proud ... whatever they decide, we will accept."

Welch has won two state titles. His first came in 2006 when he led Canyon of Canyon Country to the Division I title with a 27-13 victory over De La Salle of Concord.

In 2008, he led St. Margaret's to the Division IV title with a 59-7 victory over Hamilton Union of Hamilton City.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com