PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Nickels Leads Santa Margarita to 21-14 Upset

MISSION VIEJO —  Junior defensive back Matt Nickels had three interceptions and caught a touchdown pass to lead Santa Margarita to a 21-14 upset of previously undefeated Woodbridge Friday night at Saddleback College.

Santa Margarita (3-3, 1-0 in the Sea View League) had to hold off a late rally by Woodbridge (5-1, 0-1), which came into the game ranked No. 1 in Division V, and sixth in Orange County.

The Warriors closed the gap to 21-14 on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Casey Harris to Marco Hanlon with 1 minute 6 seconds remaining.

Woodbridge then recovered the on-side kick.

But Nickels intercepted Harris’ pass at the Eagle five-yard line with 15 seconds left to preserve the victory.

Santa Margarita quarterback Chris Collins, who has been sidelined all season because of a knee injury, led the Eagles, rushing for 79 yards in 17 carries.

But the Eagles had four interceptions, three by Nickels and one by Matt Lucas.

Lucas intercepted a pass by Harris and returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown with 28 seconds left in the second quarter to give Santa Margarita a 12-0 lead. Collins connected with Eric Brown on the two-point conversion.

Ryan Korinke kicked a 39-yard field goal with 6:59 left in the first quarter to put the Eagles ahead, 3-0. Korinke’s 45-yard field goal with 4:48 left in the second quarter gave Santa Margarita a 6-0 lead.