PHOTOS: St. Margaret’s airs it out in CIF playoff victory over Segerstrom

St. Margaret’s quarterback Max Ruff looks for an opening Friday vs. Segerstrom. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman).

St. Margaret High School’s football team earned a berth in the CIF Division 11 playoffs by winning its last four games and finishing third in the Orange Coast League.

The Tartans showed Friday night they belong in the post-season.

St. Margaret’s kept rolling behind junior quarterback Max Ruff, upsetting fourth-seeded Segerstrom 55-27 in the opening round at Segerstrom. Ruff led St. Margaret’s, completing 25 of 34 passes for 417 yards and seven touchdown passes.

St. Margaret’s (5-6) advances into the quarterfinals to host South Pasadena next Friday.

Segerstrom (3-8) was led by running back Noah Tagaloa, who scored on touchdown runs of 2, 8, and 33 yards. Tagaloa wound up with 103 yards rushing. Noble Acosta had the other score for Segerstrom on an 11-yard run near the end of the third quarter.

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Segerstrom, cheered on by a large home crowd, battled from the start but was unable to contain the St. Margaret’s passing game. St. Margaret’s, on its way to a fifth straight win, led 27-13 at halftime and 48-20 after three quarters.

Ruff hooked up with Derek Smith on an 11-yard TD catch near the end of the third quarter.

The Tartans jumped out to an early lead when Ruff connected with Sam Dunnell on a 7-yard TD in the first quarter. Dunnell also hauled in two other TD catches.

Smith finished with three TD catches and nine receptions. He hauled in a 71-yard reception that put St. Margaret’s ahead 55-27 with 7:51 left in the game.

St. Margaret’s defense also contributed to the offensive output when sophomore Stephen Newman intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Tartans a 41-13 lead. Sebastian Salazar also had an interception for the Tartans.

Segerstrom’s sophomore quarterback Jesse Lopez passed for 168 yards and one interception before leaving the game in the second half. The extent of the injury is not known. Acosta, a junior, rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries.

St. Margaret’s players and coaches exited the playing field quickly after the nearly three-hour game and could not be reached for interviews by OC Sports Zone before they left.

Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa and his players acknowledged a large contingent of Jaguars fans and honored the playing of the school’s alma mater. Then Tagaloa met with seniors for the traditional ceremony on the field after the game.

The game was delayed numerous times in the second half due to injuries.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com