Santa Margarita Puts Big Stop on Servite : Prep football: Eagles keep Friars from making a two-point conversion to record 13-12 upset.

COSTA MESA —  Santa Margarita ended Servite’s unbeaten streak at four games Thursday night, stopping Friar tailback Michael Lund on a two-point conversion attempt with 2 minutes 58 seconds remaining in a 13-12 nonleague victory at Orange Coast College.

Linebacker Tim Sulik and defensive end Joe Winkelmann tackled Lund at the Servite two as the unranked Eagles (2-3) upset the seventh-ranked Friars.

“That was a big, big play in that situation,” Santa Margarita Coach Jim Hartigan said. “We lost to University (three weeks ago) when we failed on a two-point conversion and we lost to (Cerritos) Valley Christian last week on a missed field goal.

“I told the guys before the (conversion) that we have been in crazy situations like this before.”

Servite (4-1) made it crazy in the final three minutes. The Friars cut a 13-6 deficit to one when reserve quarterback Eric Hannah, starting in place of an ill Josh Nelson, found Steve Correa open over the middle for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 2:48 left to play.

Then came the decision: Does Servite kick the extra point for a tie or go for two and the victory?

Servite Coach Larry Toner said he didn’t think twice about it.

“We play to win,” he said.

But the plan backfired, and the Eagles ran out the clock for the school’s first victory over a Division I opponent.

“This is our biggest win ever,” said Hartigan, whose team plays a free-lance schedule.

And the Eagles did it with some walking--and running--wounded.

Quarterback Sean O’Brien had missed practice with the flu and started only because Kevin Duffy tore ligaments in his ankle during Wednesday’s practice. O’Brien rushed 20 times for 82 yards and completed five of 10 passes for 59 yards.

Santa Margarita running back Josh Ireland, slowed with a deep thigh bruise, rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Ireland was a workhorse on the Eagles’ opening drive, carrying the ball six times for 26 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run that gave them a 7-0 lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter.

Servite cut the deficit to 7-6 when Lund scored on a six-yard run with 11:16 left in the half. Jeff Malone’s extra-point kick was wide.