Ireland Finishes Comeback for Santa Margarita

MISSION VIEJO — Josh Ireland’s three-yard run with 1:56 left in the game gave Santa Margarita a 35-31 victory over San Luis Obispo in front of 1,000 fans Friday at Saddleback College Field. Santa Margarita (9-0) scored 28 second-half points to earn the nonleague victory.

Trailing, 14-7 at halftime, Santa Margarita scored four touchdowns in the second half, including a 90-yard kickoff return by Ireland.

Santa Margarita’s other second-half touchdowns came on a 19-yard run by quarterback Trevor Yankoff and a 27-yard run by halfback Mike Farris. San Luis Obispo had built a 31-21 lead before Farris’ fourth-quarter scoring run made it 31-28, setting the stage for Ireland’s 16th touchdown of the year.

San Luis Obispo (3-6) took the opening kickoff and went 70 yards on 12 plays to score. Quarterback David Beauchamp completed a 17-yard pass to David DeLange for a 7-0 lead.

Five plays later, Santa Margarita tied the game on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Yankoff to David Shearer.

With 41 seconds left in the first half, San Luis Obispo made it 14-7 when Beauchamp passed 35 yards to Mark Quarles.