The Santa Margarita Eagles faced off against the Oaks Christian Lions this past Friday, with the Eagles securing a decisive 37-17 win, showcasing their strength and depth of both sides of the ball.
The Eagles set the pace early, with balanced attacks on both offense and defense, with many players contributing big plays. The Eagles were dominant on the offensive side, with multiple high yardage gains. By Halftime, the Eagles were leading 24-3, and without any scoring in the third quarter, the game was sealed early on for the Eagles.
Offensive key players:
• 2025 quarterback John Gazzaniga had an incredible game, throwing 313 yards and 3 touchdowns. Coming off the bench, John’s impact on this game was undeniable, setting up team for multiple scoring opportunities.
• Wide Receiver Trent Mosely had a standout game, with plays such as a 80 yard touchdown and a 67 yard punt return touchdown. 2026 Mosely finished with 145 yards and 5 receptions.
• Washington State commit Sean Embree Jr. showcased his scoring ability in big moments with a 72 yard touchdown pass, finishing with 4 receptions for 120 yards.
• Sophomore wide receiver Jack Junker contributed both offensively and defensively, picking up 5 receptions for 65 yards, 1 receiving touchdown, as well as 1 rushing touchdown. His contributions would extend to the defensive side of the ball, as Junker picked up 7 tackles.
Defensive key players:
• Ethan O’Connor: O’Connor recorded 8 tackles and was a constant presence in the backfield which would disrupt Oaks Christians’ momentum and rhythm multiple times.
• Ryan Martin: 6 solo tackles, helping to stop the Lions to just 17 points and crumble their offensive efforts.
• CJ Lavender Jr.: picked up a crucial interception which then led to a scoring drive, showing Lavender’s playmaking ability and the Eagles’ ability to capitalize on their opponents mistakes.
Next games:
• The Eagles, currently 3-1, are looking to continue their winning streak against Leuzinger High School on September 20th.
• The Oaks Christian Lions are to face the Serra Cavaliers next on September 19th, looking to bounce back from this loss, though there is much to learn from losing to a team like Santa Margarita.
