Santa Margarita Survives Opener : Preps: Eagle defense recovers two fumbles and gets two interceptions in 24-6 victory over San Diego Lincoln.

Santa Margarita will have better nights than it did in its season opener. The Eagles will have to in order to survive a rugged nonleague schedule, a new (Serra) league, and the jump from Southern Section Division VI to Division I.

Even though it wasn’t pretty, Santa Margarita will gladly take a workmanlike 24-6 victory over San Diego Lincoln Thursday night at Saddleback College.

The Eagle defense deserved more bows than the offense, forcing three fumbles, recovering two, getting two interceptions and five sacks.

The offense sputtered, particularly the passing game. Senior quarterback Chris Rix, who transferred from La Puente Bishop Amat, completed six of 18 passes for 97 yards, though several balls were dropped. He also fumbled, which led to Lincoln’s touchdown.

But Rix got plenty of support from the Eagle backfield. Tyler Thompson rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries, and Jimmy Herzog, a transfer from Costa Mesa, had 82 yards and scored twice in 11 carries.

Coach Jim Hartigan saw more pluses than minuses.

“We saw some things we have to work on and clean up to get through our schedule,” Hartigan said. “But I saw some good things. I thought Herzog and Thompson both ran well, and I saw some good throws by Chris.”

Lincoln halfback Dwayne Wright rushed for 147 yards in 17 carries. But the only Hornet score came in the first quarter--a 54-yard pass from Jason Swanson to Steve Smith. Smith completed one more pass, also to Smith, the rest of the game.

“I like what they do,” Lincoln Coach Tony Jackson said of Santa Margarita. “They play just as hard late in the game as they do the beginning of the game, and they do very well with what they have to work with. Tonight, for some reason, we did not play to our potential. As the coach, I’m going to have to find out why.”

Santa Margarita got the game’s first break as Ryan Schmidt recovered a Hornet fumble at midfield in the first quarter. Rix quickly struck for a 33-yard pass to David Doomey, and three plays later, Herzog chugged into the end zone from four yards out.