SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The Western football team showed no signs of slowing down as the Pioneers defeated St. Margaret’s 35-22 Friday night at St. Margaret’s High.
The Pioneers improved to 2-0 this season with both wins coming as the visiting team.
Their win Friday featured a dominant performance by the Faulkner brothers, Drew and Josh.
Drew, a senior wide receiver and cornerback, had 15 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown on offense and a fourth-quarter interception. Josh, a junior running back and safety, scored four TDs and also recorded an interception.
“Drew had one heck of a game,” Western coach Dan Davidson said, “and then Josh, (was) running the ball when we needed those first downs. Those two guys had a special game.”
“Very proud of my line,” Davidson continued. “No one ever talks about it, but that’s some tight situations. Not too many people go for it on their 20-yard line on fourth-and-1 up by 13, but that’s how much I believe in my line. I’m so proud of their work, and three of those guys are sophomores, so we’re getting better and better.”
Western jumped out to a 14-point advantage in the first quarter when Anthony Luna found Drew Faulkner for a 34-yard score. After an onside-kick, the Pioneers went on another scoring drive that ended with a 9-yard TD run by Josh Faulkner.
The Tartans (0-2) responded after getting a stop deep in Western territory and tackling Luna on a punt attempt. Max Ruff ran it in from 4 yards out to make it a one-score game.
The Pioneers scored on their next drive thanks to big plays from Malachi Alatorre and Drew Faulkner before Josh Faulkner caught on a 10-yard TD pass from Luna to make it 21-7.
St. Margaret’s received a momentum boost on the ensuing return from an unlikely source, linebacker Andrew Miehe, who took the short kickoff and broke several tackles on his way to a 60-yard return.
“It was huge for us,” St. Margaret’s coach Kory Minor said. “He’s our middle linebacker. I think he had 16 tackles last week, but he’s a great leader for us and it was a great run by him. Running the guy over, giving the Derrick Henry stiff-arm on the sideline.”
Western was able to regroup and get on the board before halftime when Drew Faulkner turned a sideline catch into a 32-yard gain that set up Josh Faulkner for another short touchdown run.
Late in the third quarter, Luna (242 yards passing, 2 TDs) was hit and appeared to favor his right leg after that, but he stayed in the game.
Davidson was proud of his quarterback’s grit.
“He got rolled up on, but he’s a tough kid but he has great composure,” Davidson said.
The Pioneers will play their first home game next week against Cypress, which is coming off a huge win over San Juan Hills.