Santa Margarita shuts down Mater Dei for low-scoring win
Trent Mosley itched and itched, the discomfort of standing on the sidelines — not his foot injury that has kept him out of action since Aug. 22 — weighing on the senior receiver.
The USC commit picked an exceptional time to return. Trailing by six, with 5:06 left, Mosley took over in the wildcat formation and bulldozed his way to the end zone for a touchdown.
“It sucked knowing I couldn’t go out there and help my teammates,” Mosley said. “Now I’m back and we’re better.”
The score and the silence of the usually boisterous crowd at Santa Ana Stadium tell the story: For the first time in a long time, the Trinity League is up for grabs. Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-0) played a stunning role in the South Division Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium, upsetting Mater Dei 7-6 to set the stage for a thrilling Trinity League final after the Eagles beat the Monarchs (4-2, 1-1) for the first time since 2013.
“Amazing,” Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer said. “They played like the best defense in the country all year, every week.”
Palmer pointed to defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, who served as interim head coach during last season and decided to stay on the Eagles staff as the catalyst for Santa Margarita’s success. Mater Dei had just 175 yards of offense Friday.
Mater Dei High’s CJ Lavender Jr. intercepts a pass intended for Santa Margarita receiver Grant Mosley Friday night.
(Craig Weston)
“They are [Fifita’s] heartbeat on defense,” Palmer said of the group, which includes Fifita’s nephew Dash, a senior linebacker.
Pound for pound, the defensive lines of Santa Margarita and Mater Dei did not move.
Eagles senior linebacker Vai Manutai would get a sack – while moments later Monarchs linemen Montana Loilolo and Matamatagi Uiagalelei would burst in for sacks of their own. Monarchs linebacker Shaun Scott forced a fumble and had 1 1/2 sacks as the Eagles couldn’t get 25 yards rushing.
Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins never felt comfortable — outside of a 10-yard touchdown run to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt in the first quarter — eventually throwing an interception to Eagles defensive back Davide Morales late in the third quarter.
“We’re there, but we’re not quite there,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said, referring to plays such as Hopkins overthrowing wide receiver Gavin Honore for a potential game-winning touchdown, which instead turned into a turnover on downs with 2:06 left.
Lara continues: “This soccer game is a great tool for teaching young men daily life skills. Not everything in life will be perfect.”
Santa Margarita quarterback Trace Johnson couldn’t get comfortable, throwing two interceptions into the hands of Mater Dei defensive back CJ Lavender Jr.
When Johnson found open space, it was thanks to Mosley.
For a team-high six catches for 51 yards, Mosley — who often lined up next to his brother Grant in the slot — helped set up the game-winning drive after freshman running back Adrian Petero hauled in a 59-yard catch to bring the Eagles into Monarchs territory.
Trent Mosley’s punch and subsequent point – which was enough to win after a failed two-point conversion after Dixon-Wyatt’s score – now establishes unprecedented territory in recent Trinity League seasons.
Yes, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco (which beat Orange Lutheran 48-0 on Friday) will still be contenders.
But the Eagles, who also hold a win over Corona Centennial, can certainly consider themselves contenders for the league crown — and maybe even Division 1 glory. Santa Margarita plays at St. John Bosco on Friday at Trabuco Hills.
“We can go there forever,” Trent Mosley said. “The culture that we have, the bond that we have, I know what we are capable of.”
