Santa Margarita wins state football title for coach Carson Palmer
In a high school football season full of surprises, the biggest was the Heisman Trophy winner guiding his alma mater to a state championship in California’s toughest division in his first season as coach.
Who had Carson Palmer and Santa Margarita on their bingo card toppling Sierra Canyon, Orange Lutheran, Corona Centennial and Corcord De La Salle during a four-game playoff streak that left the Eagles as Southern Section Division 1 and CIF Open Division state champions?
The final piece of the puzzle was solved with Santa Margarita’s 47-13 victory over De La Salle Saturday night at Saddleback College, the ninth straight season that a Southern California team has won California’s top bowl game.
There’s no point in thinking anyone has beaten Santa Margarita (11-3) in the past month with a healthy Trent Mosley. 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 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 Cal’s best player in weeks. Santa Margarita gave him the ball a lot more in the playoffs, and his opponents had no answer to defend him.
“Mosley is unbelievable,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said of the USC commit. “He does special things on the football field.”
Mosley said: “It’s great. We worked hard. I wanted to go out and do my best. It’s sad to go but what a great way to end it.”
Santa Margarita’s Leki Holani toppled De La Salle running backs all night in the CIF state final.
(Craig Weston)
How Santa Margarita rose to the top with Palmer at the helm is an equally fascinating story. Palmer was hired with little coaching experience, but his decision-making, judgment and connections to the NFL world have become clear through the all-star coaching staff he has 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 top offensive players game after game.
“It’s been an unreal 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 our support system. »
Quarterbacks were pressured by a line that allowed Isaia Vandermade to record nine sacks in the playoffs. The linebackers, led by Dash Fifita and Leki Holani, were able to move freely and make tackles with blockers preoccupied with 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 closed out the scoring with an interception return with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter.
De La Salle (12-1) thought it had a chance to end Northern California’s losing streak. Santa Margarita had not witnessed the Spartan attack. Steve Fifita even dreamed that he watched so much film to prepare his players. But the Eagles were ready for quarterback option plays and the power is rising up the middle. And De La Salle didn’t help matters by committing four personal fouls in the first four minutes. De La Salle’s only touchdowns came on short runs by Jaden Jefferson after recovering Santa Margarita fumbles.
The reason Santa Margarita became so dominant over the last month was the improvement in offense. Quarterback Trace Johnson felt comfortable and injured players returned, including tight end Luke Gazzaniga, who had touchdowns of 20 and two yards Saturday.
