In Year 1 of Carson Palmer at the helm, the No. 12 nationally ranked Santa Margarita Catholic Eagles have reached the California high school football mountain top.
Santa Margarita Catholic got strong efforts on both sides of the ball as the Eagles cruised to a 42-7 victory over No. 5 ranked Centennial for the CIF Southern Section Division I championship on Friday night at the Rose Bowl.
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The Eagles and Huskies meeting for the championship ensured for the first time since the 2011 campaign that neither Mater Dei or St. John Bosco wasn’t playing in the big game. For all the talk surrounding the Braves and the Monarchs before and during the season, it was all about the Eagles on Friday night in Pasadena.
Tulane commit Trace Johnson and USC pledge Trent Mosley (four total touchdowns) were dialed in during the first half as Santa Margarita Catholic built a 28-7 lead going into intermission. Johnson threw three touchdown passes, with one of them going to Mosley, who compiled 201 yards receiving on nine catches in the first two quarters.
Centennial just couldn’t get much going against an Eagles’ defense that had only yielded 15 points in playoff wins over Sierra Canyon and Orange Lutheran, respectively. The Huskies wouldn’t be shutout in the opening half as they scored on a 13-yard scamper by running back Zander Lewis.
It wouldn’t be anywhere near enough as Santa Margarita Catholic clamped down on the Centennial offense throughout the evening, giving quarterback Dominick Catalano fits all evening long. The Huskies point total on the night was the lowest they’ve been held to since they lost to the Eagles back on Aug. 28 in a 33-27 decision.
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For Palmer, he leads his alma mater Santa Margarita Catholic to its first CIF Southern Section Division I championship since 2011, when the Eagles defeated San Clemente 24-22 in the Pac-5 Division final, which was then recognized as the top class in California high school football.
How to Follow California High School Football
For California high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Golden State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of California.
