Instant analysis of Division 1 bowl game

CIF STATE DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP

INSTANT ANALYSIS

MVP: Johnny Stanton, QB, Santa Margarita

The junior quarterback was 14 of 25 for 306 yards and four TDs and he had two TD runs to help the Eagles rally from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Bellarmine of San Jose, 42-37. Stanton's 1-yard TD run with 16 seconds left gave the Eagles their first state championship.

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OCVarsity Hot Shots: State title action, fans

OCVarsity's coverage of Division 1 bowl game

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Key play: Fourth quarter, Bellarmine leading, 30-28, with 6:55 remaining

Santa Margarita was in desparate need of a defensive stop after Johnny Stanton threw a 32-yard TD to Connor O'Brien to cut the Bells' lead to 30-28. The Eagles got more than a big stop. Matt Anderson intercepted QB Travis McHugh at the Bells' 17-yard line and returned it to the 1-yard line. Stanton scored on a 1-yard run on the next play and ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a 36-30 lead with 6:52 remaining.

By the numbers

4: Number of times Eagles fumbled (they lost three of the fumbles)

16: Number of tackles by Eagles linebacker Sammy Gibbs

375: How many yards QB Johnny Stanton accounted for out of Santa Margarita's 407 yards of total offense

Quotable

“It was a battle all night long. We were not going to lose this game. We were going to do whatever it took.” - Santa Margarita linebacker Matt Anderson