Ireland Runs Santa Margarita to 42-0 Victory

MISSION VIEJO —  Josh Ireland rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns to lead Santa Margarita High School to a 42-0 Olympic League victory over Orange Lutheran Friday night at Saddleback College.

The victory clinches third place in the league for Santa Margarita (6-3 overall, 4-3 in league play), and improved the Eagles’ chance of gaining an at-large Division IX playoff berth. Santa Margarita concludes the regular season with a nonleague game against Centennial next week.

Ireland, a sophomore tailback who carried 17 times, scored twice on one-yard runs in the second quarter to give Santa Margarita a 13-0 lead. Quarterback Trevor Yankoff’s 25-yard touchdown pass to David Shearer with 1:21 remaining in the half extended the lead, with Yankoff’s conversion run making the margin, 21-0.

Ireland got his third touchdown on a 13-yard run on Santa Margarita’s first possession of the third quarter. The Eagles went to Ireland on all three plays of the 47-yard drive.

Orange Lutheran (0-5, 2-7) was without standout halfback Gil Greene, who had an injured leg.