• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Saturday, June 10, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Stahl Ignites Late St. Margaret’s Football Comeback with TD Catch, Pick-6 to Advance to CIF-SS Division 9 Title Game

by Capo Dispatch
November 19, 2021 10:55PM - Updated on November 22, 2021 2:48PM
in SPORTS & OUTDOORS, Sports News
St. Margaret’s Football Dominates First Half, Holds on at San Dimas to Advance to Division 9 Semifinals

St. Margaret's football. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Zach Cavanagh

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The St. Margaret’s football team was down.

The Tartans had grinded out a physical battle with Claremont as the CIF-SS Division 9 semifinal wound down late in the fourth quarter. Ball control with long, punishing drives had put Claremont ahead, and the Wolfpack intercepted the Tartans at the Claremont 6-yard line with five minutes left.

St. Margaret’s got the three-and-out it needed, and then, magic happened.

Will Stahl happened.

St. Margaret’s quarterback Jack Ruff connected with Stahl on three straight plays, including the go-ahead 14-yard touchdown pass, and Stahl jumped Claremont’s very next passing play for a 33-yard pick-six to ice the game for the Tartans, 23-13, and send St. Margaret’s to its first CIF-SS championship game since 2014.

FINAL: St. Margaret’s 23, Claremont 13

Tartans grind out a comeback victory to advance to the CIF-SS Finals for the first time since 2014. Tartans will be on the road in Division at Colony of Ontario or at Ventura. @SMESAthletics @CapoDispatch pic.twitter.com/fhfvAeiLer

— South OC Sports (@SouthOCsports) November 20, 2021

“They responded,” an emotional Kory Minor, St. Margaret’s head coach, said. “At half time, I said they need to make individual plays, and they did that. No. 11 (Stahl), No. 4 (Ruff), that whole team, they did that. I’m so proud of these young men… I’m the happiest I can be right now because they fought through adversity, a damn good football team. I’m speechless.”

Ruff completed 20 of 30 passes for 201 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Stahl caught nine passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.

St. Margaret’s (9-4) will play on the road at Colony High School (7-6) in Ontario next weekend in the Division 9 title game. Colony beat Ventura, 28-0, in its semifinal. Game date and time for the championship will be announced by CIF-SS this weekend.

The Tartans have endured plenty over the last calendar year to get to this point.

St. Margaret’s senior receiver Will Stahl score the go-ahead TD with a reception and iced the game 17 seconds later with a pick-6.

Tartans beat Claremont, 23-13, to advance to CIF-SS Division 9 Final. @SMESAthletics @CapoDispatch pic.twitter.com/4KQXuFRZz7

— South OC Sports (@SouthOCsports) November 20, 2021

As everyone experienced, the pandemic forced delays to St. Margaret’s 2020, and the Tartans would only manage a three-game season in the spring. Affected by injuries and players’ commitments to other sports, St. Margaret’s went 1-2, and in the offseason, the Tartans’ league was dissolved.

St. Margaret’s played a tough schedule as a freelance team in this fall 2021 season, but after a 2-4 start, the Tartans found their way to the CIF-SS playoffs and have won seven straight games to make the Division 9 final.

Minor could hardly contain himself in praising his group.

“Those men there. They believed. They bought in. They didn’t question it,” Minor said. “Every single day, they came to work. It wasn’t always the best work, but they found a way to get through it. They’re here because of that. I owe everything to this team, this community, this culture. This is special.”

TOUCHDOWN: St. Margaret’s finally finds the end zone and the lead. Ruff goes to Stahl on 3 straight plays, including this 14 yard leaping TD. @Jack_Ruff4

St. Margaret’s 16, Claremont 13, 2:11 remaining. CIF-SS D9 Semifinals. @SMESAthletics pic.twitter.com/ArrK0lAmKS

— South OC Sports (@SouthOCsports) November 20, 2021

Claremont (7-6) dictated the pace of this game from the opening drive, as the Wolfpack pounded out a 18-play, 10-minute drive that resulted in a touchdown and the lead, 7-0.

Claremont did not let St. Margaret’s beat them deep, and, for the most part, controlled the line of scrimmage to force the Tartans to earn every yard on the field.

St. Margaret’s couldn’t find the end zone early, but the Tartans leaned on senior kicker Sean Olvera Harle. Olvera Harle knocked in a 29-yard field goal and a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Last week, St. Margaret’s led 35-7 at San Dimas at halftime, and the Tartans had to hold on for a 38-28 win. San Dimas’ comeback started with an onside kick to open the second half. San Dimas ground out the game on the ground.

With Claremont leading 7-6 at halftime, St. Margaret’s got hit with déjà vu, as the Wolfpack recovered an onside kick to start the second half, but the Tartans defense made its first of many big second-half stops.

Late in the third quarter, Olvera Harle struck again from even longer with a 49-yard field goal to finally put St. Margaret’s ahead, 9-7.

FG: St. Margaret’s grabs the lead. Sean Olvera Hale knocks in his 3rd field goal as he sails this kick in from 49 yards out. @OlveraHarle

St. Margaret’s 9, Claremont 7, 3:16 3Q. @SMESAthletics pic.twitter.com/VnZ1bwU2Nb

— South OC Sports (@SouthOCsports) November 20, 2021

Claremont responded in turn and retook the lead with a 14-play drive and a muscled-in 17-yard touchdown run with just over eight minutes remaining for a 13-9 lead.

St. Margaret’s made its push to respond, but Ruff threw up a deep pass that was picked at the Claremont 6-yard line. However, the Tartans’ defense made its biggest stop with a three-and-out, and a short punt put St. Margaret’s at the Claremont 40.

“I knew we had to step it up,” Stahl said. “Something had to change, our energy had to change, and we did it. We all just kind of knew.”

Stahl and Ruff finally ignited with a 12-yard pass, 14-yard pass and 14-yard touchdown pass for a 16-13 lead with just over two minutes remaining.

Just 17 seconds later, on Claremont’s first offensive play of the drive, Stahl jumped on a Claremont pass out to the left and navigated the Claremont sideline for the 33-yard return and a 10-point lead, 23-13.

“All season we’ve been grinding,” Stahl said. “We know what it’s like to lose. We know what it’s like to try to come back. We just never give up. I love this team.”

Claremont got the ball one more time, but with a sack by Battle Gideons and a game-ending interception by Tyler Matthews, the Tartans shut down the Wolfpack to advance.

In the final, St. Margaret’s will meet up with an athletic Colony team that possess a strong defensive line.

Colony was 4-6 in the regular season and finished second in the Citrus 4 league. Colony actually lost to Claremont, 13-6, on Sept. 10. In the playoffs, Colony won on the road in Orange County at Portola, 42-21, and Western of Anaheim, 52-27. Colony won at home against Ventura in the semifinals, 28-0.

St. Margaret’s last trip to the CIF-SS Final was successful with a 2014 East Valley Division championship over Grace Brethren. Colony’s last CIF-SS Final was also in 2014 when the Titans beat Los Altos for the Central Division title.

Zach Cavanagh

Zach Cavanagh is the sports editor for Picket Fence Media. Zach is a California Journalism Award winner and has covered sports in Orange County since 2013. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ZachCav and follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SouthOCSports. Email at zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: ChampionshipChampionship GameCIFCIF-SSClaremontColonyDivision 9FeaturedFinalFootballJack RuffKory MinorOntarioPick SixSan Juan CapistranoSemifinalsSMESSouthern SectionSt. Margaret’sTartansTartans FootballTitle GameTouchdownventuraWill StahlwinWolfpack
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

Ugandan Representative Visits San Juan Capistrano Nonprofit

Ugandan Representative Visits San Juan Capistrano Nonprofit

June 9, 2023
SJC High School Girls Athletes of the Year: Peyton Leonard & Amanda Edwards

SJC High School Girls Athletes of the Year: Peyton Leonard & Amanda Edwards

June 9, 2023
SJC High School Girls Athletes of the Year: Peyton Leonard & Amanda Edwards

SJC High School Boys Athletes of the Year: Trent Caraway & Luke Powell

June 9, 2023
Moments in Time: Recognizing the History of Los Rios Street

Moments in Time: Recognizing the Chamber of Commerce’s 100-Year Anniversary

June 9, 2023
Next Post
Construction Underway for New Rancho Mission Viejo Amenities and Homes

Construction Underway for New Rancho Mission Viejo Amenities and Homes

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Good Eats
    • Graduation Special
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.