By Paul Bartelt
IPA Sports Editor
Mission Viejo, Ca. Santa Margarita (11-3) dominated De La Salle (12-1) Saturday night 47-13 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 State Football High School Championship. The Eagles’ last State title came in 2011.
Santa Margarita had an early 19-0 lead and took command as they were ahead 35-7 at halftime and never looked back. The Eagles, representing the Trinity League, outscored their last three opponents 94 to 22 while defensively held teams to an average of 12.2 points per game this season.
Under the direction of first year Head Coach Carson Palmer, a Heisman Trophy winner at USC who played quarterback for 15 seasons in the NFL, Santa Margarita finished the year ranked second in the nation by HSrating.com. Three Eagle standouts are committed to playing college football for the Trojans at Palmers alma mater next fall.
The Championship game featured De La Salle with speed on offense against a Santa Margarita defense recognized as the best in California that has shut down another high ranked opponent this season. Again, it was the Eagle offense, led by senior quarterback Trace Johnson who completed 17 of 20 pass attempts for 247 yards and threw four touchdown passes that overwhelmed the De La Salle defense. Senior running back Trent Mosley, a USC commit, scored three touchdowns and finished the game with 11 receptions for 183 yards. The championship game was broadcast live on Spectrum News Television.
Leave a Reply