PASADENA — Under the bright lights of the Rose Bowl, No. 6 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) delivered one of the most complete championship performances in recent Southern Section history, stunning No. 2 Centennial (Corona) 42–7 to claim the CIF-SS Division 1 title on Friday night. The Eagles showcased a suffocating defense, a perfectly executed offensive game plan, and a once-in-a-generation outing from senior star Trent Mosley.
Head coach Carson Palmer — the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner from USC — watched his future Trojan commit turn in a Heisman-like performance of his own. Mosley erupted for 299 receiving yards, four total touchdowns, and highlight after highlight as the Eagles took control early and never gave it back.
If the stage felt big, Mosley made it look small.He accounted for 168 yards from scrimmage in the first quarter alone, scoring both touchdowns as Santa Margarita jumped out to a 14–0 advantage. He opened the scoring with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, set up moments earlier by his own 65-yard catch. On the next drive, he caught a pass from quarterback Trace Johnson and exploded for an 80-yard touchdown, electrifying the Eagles’ sideline and crowd.By the time the night was over, Mosley had hauled in 10 passes for 299 yards, scored twice on the ground, and added TD receptions of 80 and 91 yards. His 91-yard score — a backside screen — put the game out of reach, stretching the lead to 35–7 with 8:10 to go in the third quarter.
Johnson Efficient and Explosive
Quarterback Trace Johnson, a Tulane commit, delivered one of his best performances of the season. Johnson completed 14 of 24 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns, with nearly 300 of those yards coming in the first half.He connected on a 33-yard strike to Luke Gazzaniga and closed the half with a perfectly placed 26-yard touchdown to Ryan Clark, sending Santa Margarita into the locker room up 28–7.
While the offense rolled, the Eagles’ defense played championship-level football from the opening whistle. Centennial — one of the state’s most explosive offenses — was smothered all night, finishing the first half with just 88 total yards.Defensive standout Isaia Vandermade recorded three sacks before halftime, spearheading a relentless pass rush that tallied six sacks overall. Santa Margarita’s front seven consistently disrupted Centennial quarterback Izzy Carter, limiting big plays and eliminating the Huskies’ usual rhythm.Even after a Santa Margarita fumble early in the third quarter, the defense rose up again, stuffing Centennial on a fourth-down try deep in Eagles territory to preserve momentum.
Centennial’s Lone Spark
The Huskies’ only scoring drive came after a short punt late in the second quarter, giving them a short field. Running back Cornell Lewis punched in a 14-yard touchdown with 7:11 left in the half to make it 14–7. But Santa Margarita responded immediately with back-to-back scoring drives, and Centennial never threatened again.The win marks Santa Margarita’s fourth CIF Southern Section title — and for coach Carson Palmer, another chapter in a personal connection to the Eagles’ football legacy. Palmer has now been part of three of the program’s championships, both as a star quarterback and now as head coach.
riday’s victory wasn’t just a title win — it was a statement.Dominant defense. A poised quarterback. And a superstar wide receiver delivering one of the greatest championship performances in section history.Santa Margarita is back on top of the California high school football world, and they did it with a night the Rose Bowl won’t soon forget.
