No. 6
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) showed off its stifling defense and
Trent Mosley put on a Heisman-like performance in a 42-7 win over No. 2
Centennial (Corona) on Friday in California's Southern Section Division 1 title game at the Rose Bowl.
The 2002 Heisman Trophy winner at USC, Santa Margarita head coach Carson Palmer saw his future Trojan receiver put up video-game numbers. Mosley was all of the team's offense in the first quarter with 168 yards from scrimmage and both scores as the Eagles raced to a 14-0 lead.
Mosley finished with 299 yards receiving on 10 catches and four scores, two on the ground in addition to TD catches of 80 and 91 yards.
No. Santa Margarita wide receiver Trent Mosley had a game for the ages with 299 yards receiving and four total touchdowns in the sixth-ranked Eagles' 42-7 win over No. 2 Corona Centennial. (PHOTO: Rene Morales)
The senior wideout got Santa Margarita (10-3) on the board with a two-yard TD run after his 65-yard catch set the Eagles up. On their next possession, Mosley caught a
Trace Johnson pass and took it 80 to the house. The Tulane commit quarterback was 14 of 20 for 292 yards and three touchdown passes in the first half. Johnson finished with 391 yards passing on 14 of 24 passing.
Trailing 14-0, Centennial (11-2) looked like it had righted the ship with 35-yard scoring drive after a short punt as Lewis scampered in from 14 yards to cut the lead to 14-7 with 7:11 left in half. But Santa Margarita scored 14 unanswered, as Johnson had a 33-yard TD pass to
Luke Gazzaniga before closing the half with a 26-yard strike to
Ryan Clark.
Isaia Vandermade came up big with three sacks in the first half, helping the Eagles hold the Huskies to 88 yards of total offense. Santa Margarita's defense came up with six sacks on the night.
After a fumble on its first possession of the second half, Santa Margarita's defense held Centennial on fourth down deep in its own territory to thwart the drive. Then Mosley struck with the back-breaker, catching a backside screen and taking it 91 yards for his third score and a 35-7 Santa Margarita lead with 8:10 left in the third quarter.
This is the fourth section title for Santa Margarita and Palmer has had a hand in three as a player and coach.
Santa Margarita faces No.15
De La Salle (Concord) on Dec. 13 in the Open Division state final at Saddleback College.
The Santa Margarita defense held Corona Centennial to seven points while sacking Huskies' quarterback Dominick Catalano six times. (PHOTO: Rene Morales)
