BELLFLOWER, Calif. — The balance of power in Southern California high school football continues to shift, and Santa Margarita Catholic is making it clear that the road to a championship runs through the Eagles.
No. 3 nationally ranked Santa Margarita delivered another statement victory Friday night, defeating No. 8 St. John Bosco 21-7 at Panish Family Stadium to remain undefeated and strengthen its position among the nation’s elite programs.
Behind a suffocating defensive performance and a timely offensive explosion, the reigning CIF Open Division state champions improved to 8-0 under second-year head coach Carson Palmer. The victory also served as a potential preview of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game, scheduled for November 27.
St. John Bosco appeared ready for a heavyweight battle after striking first in the opening quarter. Braves quarterback Koa Malau’ulu connected with Kuika Moaalii on a 33-yard touchdown pass, giving the home team an early 7-0 advantage.
However, Santa Margarita quickly responded with the defensive intensity that has helped define its championship identity. Rayshawn Brandon delivered one of the game’s biggest plays, intercepting a pass and returning it 54 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles on the scoreboard.
Santa Margarita followed with a two-yard touchdown run from Adrian Petero, taking a 14-7 advantage into halftime. From that point forward, the Eagles’ defense refused to surrender another point.
Santa Margarita also blocked two field goal attempts, frustrating a St. John Bosco offense that struggled to establish consistency against the defending state champions.
Palmer Delivers Knockout Blow
With Santa Margarita protecting a seven-point lead in the third quarter, junior quarterback Fletch Palmer helped deliver the decisive play. The Eagles executed a perfectly timed flea flicker, with Palmer finding Grant Mosley for a 49-yard touchdown reception.
The explosive play extended Santa Margarita’s advantage to 21-7 and placed additional pressure on the Braves. St. John Bosco never recovered. Santa Margarita’s defense controlled the remainder of the contest, completing a performance that reinforced the Eagles’ status as a legitimate national championship contender.
For years, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco dominated Southern California’s high school football landscape. But Santa Margarita has disrupted that established order.
Last season, the Eagles became the first program outside those two traditional powerhouses to capture both the Southern Section championship and California Open Division state title since 2016.
Now, Palmer’s team appears determined to prove that championship run was no one-year accomplishment. Santa Margarita’s undefeated season already includes victories over Centennial of Corona and No. 21 Mater Dei. Friday’s win over St. John Bosco adds another impressive achievement to a growing résumé.
What’s Next?
Santa Margarita (8-0) returns to action October 23 against JSerra Catholic. Before concluding its regular season October 30 against Orange Lutheran. Meanwhile, St. John Bosco (6-2) faces a challenging closing stretch.
The Braves travel to Anaheim to face Servite on October 23 before meeting longtime rival Mater Dei on October 30. With the postseason approaching, both programs remain capable of making deep playoff runs.
However, Friday night’s result delivered a message throughout Southern California. Santa Margarita isn’t simply defending its championship. The Eagles are establishing themselves as the program everyone else must beat.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
