Amat Suffers Stunning Loss

Santa Margarita quarterback Chris Rix may have played last season at La Puente Bishop Amat, but it seemed as if his teammates were as obsessive about winning as he was.

The Eagles, two-time Southern Section champions who have struggled this season, scored a ratings knockout Friday with a 35-26 victory over Bishop Amat.

Bishop Amat (5-1) was ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section and No. 2 in the state.

“Chris was very emotional all week and didn’t want to do anything but win,” running back Jimmy Herzog said. “We stepped up to our potential. We wanted to win it for him, but also wanted to win it for ourselves.”

Herzog rushed 26 times for 117 yards and three touchdowns. Rix completed eight of 12 passes for 146 yards and rushed 13 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles (5-2) held off Bishop Amat, whose Donnie McCleskey rushed 29 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns. McCleskey’s final carry was a fumble at the Eagles’ 22, recovered by Matt Vogel with 1:40 left, securing the Santa Margarita victory.

Jim Hartigan called the game the biggest non-title win in Santa Margarita history. Rix played last season at Bishop Amat, where he passed for more than 1,700 yards, 13 touchdowns, and directed the Lancers to the Southern Section Division I semifinals and an 11-1-1 record.