AM: St. Margaret’s already beat this team, 14-0. Why should this game be any different?

DA: Well, I think it will be different — St. Margaret’s winning by a lot more points. The Tartans, I think, didn’t play to their potential that first time, on the road. St. Margaret’s is just rolling big time, and Cal/Mur just survived last week.

DA: Sounded like they should have lost, really.

AM: Yeah, it’s hard to even gauge how good St. Margaret’s is playing right now.

AM: It’s like the Patriots. They’re just so much better than everyone else.

AM: When I hear they’re up 42-0 at halftime against the team that was supposed to be its toughest challenge all season ... what am I supposed to think?

DA: Yeah, they are hard to gauge because they are just beating up folks in their own division. They are averaging 50 points on offense and allowing 8.5. And they are now ranked fifth in the South Division III standings by Calpreps.com. How’d you like to see the Tartans and Welch playing for a state title? Not that crazy, believe it or not. ... There are two rounds of football left before the state selections, and St. Margaret’s only needs to leap three or four. The Tartans should take care of their business.

AM: This reminds me, you were really the one that went out and made a bold statement about this team when Welch got hired, talking about how he would make this program “big time.” How would you say he is doing in Year 1?

DA: Yeah, Fryer really challenged me on that one and certainly has not let me forget it. I think he mentioned my thoughts in his column. Anyway, hey, if St Margaret’s makes it to Division III state final, I’ll look smarter than Bill Walsh. But seriously, I stand by my call. The Tartans are on track, and I think they are very close to being a Top-25 team in O.C. Could St Margaret’s beat University or Irvine or Dana Hills? Very hard to tell, but in a game late in the season, I’d take the Tartans.

DA: And I think the program is only going to get better.

Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com