In a high school football season full of surprises, the biggest was the Heisman Trophy winner who led his alma mater to a state championship in California’s toughest division in his rookie season as coach.
Who was on the bingo card for Carson Palmer and Santa Margarita, who swept Sierra Canyon, Orange Lutheran, Corona Centennial and Corcord De La Salle in a four-game postseason stretch as the Eagles became Division 1 Southern Section and CIF Open Division champions?
The final piece of the puzzle was solved with Santa Margarita’s 47-13 win over De La Salle Saturday night at Saddleback College, the ninth straight season a Southern California team has won California’s top bowl game.
It was futile to think anyone beat Santa Margarita (11-3) with a healthy Trent Mosley in the last month. Two weeks ago, he dazzled Corona Centennial in the Division 1 final with 10 catches for 292 yards. On Saturday, even though De La Salle knew what he could do, Mosley was still unstoppable. In the first half, when Santa Margarita opened up a 35-7 halftime lead, Mosley had eight catches for 134 yards and touchdowns of 34 and six yards and also ran seven yards for another touchdown. He finished with 11 receptions for 183 yards.
With his underrated speed, upper body strength and ability to play multiple positions, Mosley has been the best player in California for weeks. Santa Margarita got him the ball a lot more in the postseason, and opponents didn’t know the answer to his defense.
“Mosley is unbelievable,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said of the USC commit. “He does some special things on the football field.
Mosley said: “It’s a great feeling. We’ve been working hard. I wanted to come out and do my best. It’s sad to leave, but it’s a great way to end it.”
Santa Margarita’s Leki Holani was throwing De La Salle runners all night in the CIF state finals.
(Craig Weston)
How Santa Margarita rose to the top with Palmer at the helm is an equally impressive story. Palmer was hired with little coaching experience, but his decision-making, judgment and NFL connections have been evident in the stellar coaching staff he’s assembled, none more important than retaining defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, last season’s interim coach. With nine returning defensive starters and three defensive line transfers, the Eagles had no weaknesses on a defense that repeatedly neutralized the top offensive players game after game.
“It’s been an unbelievable year from start to finish,” Palmer said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys, I couldn’t be more proud of our coaching staff and support system.”
Quarterbacks were pressured by a line that had Isaia Vandermade record nine sacks in the postseason. The linebackers, led by Dash Fifita and Leki Holani, were free to move around and deal with blockers that plagued the line. The secondary, led by sophomore star Ca’ron Williams, had the freedom to be aggressive knowing the quarterbacks wouldn’t have much time to release the ball. Siua Holani capped the scoring with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter.
De La Salle (12-1) thought it would have a chance to end Northern California’s losing streak. Santa Margarita did not see the attack of the Spartans with the possibility of turning. Steve Fifita even had dreams of watching so many films to prepare his players. But the Eagles were ready for pass plays with the ability to run and run power up the middle. And De La Salle didn’t help matters either with four personal fouls in the first four minutes. The only touchdowns for De La Salle came on short runs by Jaden Jefferson after he recovered a Santa Margarita fumble.
The reason Santa Margarita has become so dominant over the last month has been the improvement on offense. Quarterback Trace Johnson recovered and injured players returned, including tight end Luke Gazzaniga, who had touchdown receptions of 20 and two yards Saturday. Johnson finished his brief stay in Santa Margarita after transferring from Florida by completing 17 of 20 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns.
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