YUCCA VALLEY - After watching his team withstand one of its most challenging tests in recent memory, a big sigh of relief from St. Margaret’s coach Harry Welch seemed only fitting.

The smile that radiated from his face was also befitting of the effort that the Tartans put forth to move one game of tying county football history.

Senior quarterback David Mothander passed for 155 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score, and freshman running back Matthew Duenes added 21 carries for 150 yards.

St. Margaret’s, which usually overpowers opponents, fought its way to a 17-6 triumph over the Yucca Valley Trojans in the second round of the CIF East Valley playoffs Friday night at Yucca Valley High.

“It was quite a battle for us tonight,” Welch said. “We feel as though we’re a pretty good football team that can play with anyone on a given night.”

St. Margaret’s extended to the county’ second-longest winning streak to 40 games, one behind Mission Viejo’s mark of 41 in a row from 2001-03.

“Our offensive line did a great job for us today,” Mothander said. “We need a win next week to stay alive, so all we can do is to try and play our best football.”

The Tartans (12-0) opened the contest by embarked on a 20-play, 86-yard drive, as the power running of Duenes and the passing of Mothander guided the Tartans down to the Trojans 1. However, on fourth down, Duenes was stopped inches short of the goal line, keeping the game scoreless.

The Tartans finally managed to score their first points of the game midway through the second period. Mothander’s 67-yard pass to wide receiver J.T. Carpenter  helped set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from Mothander to wide receiver Alex Brolic for a 7-0 lead.

After the Trojans’ ensuing possession ended in a punt, Duenes helped set up the Tartans’ second score right before the half as he broke loose on a 48-yard run. A personal foul on the Trojans took the ball to inside the 4-yard line. Two plays later, Mothander’s 1-yard sneak increased the lead to 14-0 at the intermission.

After the teams exchanged punts to open the second half, the Trojans narrowed the gap late in the period. Brandon Willis took a fake punt 30 yards down to the Tartans’ 25-yard line.

On the next play, quarterback Xavier Siddall hit wide receiver Rex Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown. Mothander blocked the PAT to keep the score 14-6.

But the Trojans (7-5) would get no closer, as Duenes and Mothander continued to grind out yards and eat valuable time off the clock.

After taking over at midfield to start the fourth quarter, The Tartans added the final points of the game, as Mothander connected on a 23-yard field goal.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com