Santa Margarita football dominates Centennial to win Division 1 title

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PASADENA — A nearly year-long quest by Santa Margarita to rejuvenate its program under one of its most revered former players arrived Friday at one of the most celebrated venues in the sport.

With the Eagles in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game for the first time since 2011, the night felt close to a victory for the Trinity League school even before kickoff against Centennial at the Rose Bowl.

But first-year coach Carson Palmer, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star, guided his alma mater further. A lot further.

Trent Mosley racked up 292 yards receiving and four touchdowns, and Isaia Vandermade recorded three sacks as Santa Margarita sprinted past top-ranked Centennial 42-7 to win its first section title since 2011.

In a stunning effort against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation by HSratings.com, Mosley had 10 receptions for 292 yards and scored four touchdowns as Santa Margarita (10-3) invoked a running clock against the Huskies (11-2) in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles, ranked fourth in the nation by HSratings, received four touchdown passes from quarterback Trace Johnson and seven sacks from their defense before a crowd of 8,775.

Eagles linebacker Dash Fifita recorded two sacks.

The brightest star was Mosley. The USC commit sizzled in the first half and opened the scoring in the third quarter with a 91-yard reception on a throwback screen.

Mosley gave Santa Margarita a 35-7 lead two plays after the Eagles’ defense held on a fourth-and-1 from its 7.

Mosley, a senior, added a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter after an interception and long return corner Ca’ron Williams.

Santa Margarita’s defense set the tone by forcing a three-and-out on the opening possession of the first quarter. The Eagles capitalized with a swift scoring drive that started with a 65-yard reception by Mosley from the slot and ended with the senior’s 2-yard touchdown run.

After Santa Margarita’s defense made a fourth-down stop from its 10 on the next possession, Mosley broke another big play a few moments later.

Lined up at outside receiver, he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Johnson as the Eagles opened a 14-0 lead.

Mosley touched the ball on every Santa Margarita offensive play in the first quarter and finished the period with 168 total yards (166 receiving on five catches).

Johnson closed the first half strong. The Tulane commit tossed a 33-yard touchdown to tight end Luke Gazzaniga coming out of a timeout with 3:06 left in the second quarter and added a 26-yard strike to sophomore Ryan Clark with 25 seconds remaining.

Vandermade, a junior lineman, punctuated Santa Margarita’s 28-7 first half by recording his third sack.

Santa Margarita’s defense flashed its season-long dominance despite playing without injured cornerback Jayden Crowder.

Santa Margarita announced Palmer, a Heisman Trophy winner with USC, as its coach on Dec. 12, less than a month after the Eagles’ season ended with a 31-29 loss against St. John Bosco in the Division 1 quarterfinals.

The coaching news came after an alleged sexual assault case in the Santa Margarita football program surfaced in late October.

In hiring Palmer, Santa Margarita highlighted his impressive football credentials along with his commitment to developing academic and character success.

By February, the football expectations continued to grow as three high-profile linemen arrived at the school.

In its run to the CIF finals, Santa Margarita beat Centennial in overtime in late August, defeated Mater Dei for the first time since 2013 and knocked off previously undefeated Sierra Canyon.

The Eagles also helped create an unexpected pairing at the Rose Bowl. Friday marked the first time since 2011 that neither Mater Dei or St. John Bosco reached the Division 1 final.

The journey isn’t over for Santa Margarita. On Sunday, the Eagles are expected to be announced as the Southern California opponent for De La Salle in the CIF State Open Division final in about two weeks at Saddleback College.