Santa Margarita football prevails over Sierra Canyon in Division 1 defensive battle

CHATSWORTH — Sierra Canyon’s vaunted defense hadn’t given up more than 14 points in a game all year.

Like it had all season, the defense held its own for the first 23 minutes of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 opening playoff game against Santa Margarita, but the Eagles were able to break through the Trailblazers’ defense thanks in large part to a pair of touchdown catches by Ryan Clark.

The sophomore wide receiver had three touchdowns all season. He left the rainy and wet Sierra Canyon field Friday night with two more touchdowns to his name, helping propel the Eagles to a 21-9 win over the Trailblazers.

“It feels good. I’ve always wanted to score two times in a game and it came true today,” Clark said.

“I’m not surprised, he’s just a football player,” Santa Margarita head coach Carson Palmer said about Clark. “He was the MVP of the freshman team last year. He punts it for us, he punt returns, he kick returns. …He’s just a football player.”

While Sierra Canyon’s defense was locking down Santa Margarita’s offense for much of the first half, the Eagles were able to manufacture a scoring drive late in the second quarter, culminating in Clark’s first touchdown.

Santa Margarita quarterback Trace Johnson found a streaking Clark down the left sideline, who made a contested catch and dove into the end zone with 18 seconds left in the half.

“The route was just a 10-yard route, but (Johnson) gave me the go for a touchdown,” Clark said. “It gave us momentum that we carried through the game.”

Trailing 7-3 at the half, Sierra Canyon’s offense came out with energy and vigor in the third quarter, piecing together a scoring drive, led by De’Markus Barnes.

Barnes had a long run on a fourth-and-1 at midfield, setting up his 2-yard touchdown run a play later that gave Sierra Canyon a 9-7 lead.

It was short-lived, however.

On the Eagles’ ensuing possession, a well-designed trick play placed Johnson out wide, who then went back toward the ball and received a short pitch from Adrian Petero.

The design gave Johnson more time in the pocket to find Clark once again, who made a diving acrobatic catch for a 42-yard touchdown.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know (Johnson) was going to throw it to me. He stepped up in the pocket and I thought he was going to run,” Clark said. “But I saw the ball in the air and I went to go get it.”

Penalties and missed opportunities plagued the Trailblazers in the first half. Every time they got close to scoring, a turnover or special teams blunder would squash the drive.

Sierra Canyon’s first field goal attempt was blocked and its third field goal attempt was a miss.

Sierra Canyon quarterback Laird Finkel was also intercepted by Santa Margarita’s Siua Holani in the end zone.

The Eagles, also their defensive prowess, put the clamps on Sierra Canyon after the opening touchdown of the second half.

The Trailblazers weren’t able to get much traction on offense after that, and Santa Margarita was able to put the game away, helped by a Trent Mosley 8-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that ended up being the last points of the contest.

Sierra Canyon finishes the season with a 10-1 record. Its players and coaches left the field immediately after the game.

Santa Margarita will play Orange Lutheran next week, 20-19 winners over St. John Bosco.