Santa Margarita (CA) Escapes Centennial (CA), 21-20, in Battle of National Powers

Santa Margarita forced two turnovers, utilized a steady running game and took advantage of a missed extra-point kick by host Centennial to escape with a big 21-20 CIF Southern Section victory on Friday night.

The Trinity League matchup was an early litmus test for supremacy in the conference, state and nation. Centennial entered the contest ranked No. 6 in the High School On SI Power 25 National Rankings, while Santa Margarita came in at No. 7.

It appeared that Santa Margarita may run away with it in the beginning as the Eagles shot to a 14-0 lead.

On the game's opening series, Santa Margarita’s defense forced Malaki Davis to fumble, and the Eagles scored a few minutes later on a 1-yard TD run by Adrian Petero for a 7-0 lead with 5 minutes, 48 seconds left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Cruz Nunez sacked Centennial quarterback Jaden Jefferson to force a turnover on downs. Santa Margarita quarterback Fletch Palmer then drove his team downfield for another touchdown: a 3-yard run by Jaion Smith.

But Centennial and Jefferson kept chipping away and the Huskies finally broke through when he found Quentin Hale in the left back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT cut the Eagles’ lead to seven, 14-7, with 1:30 left in the first half.

A big sack by Centennial linebacker Matt Salmeron to force Santa Margarita to turn the ball over on downs eventually led to a 24-yard TD pass from Jefferson to Kennie Leggett, tying the game at 14-14 in the third quarter.

But just when it seemed Centennial had grabbed the momentum, Santa Margarita’s Caron Williams returned an interception for a TD to push the Eagles back up 21-14 on the final play of the third quarter.

Centennial came back again in the fourth quarter, getting an 11-yard TD run from Braylin Drake. But the Huskies missed the PAT and trailed 21-20.

The teams then battled it out defensively for the remainder of the quarter.

Refresh This Page Repeatedly Throughout the Game for the Latest Live Updates

The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST/10 p.m. EST.

FINAL SCORE: Santa Margarita 21, Centennial 20.

Santa Margarita leans on its running game to run out the clock. Eagles escape Centennial, 21-20.

Santa Margarita defense stops Centennial on 4th-and-2.

SACKED! Big play by freshman Aydan Steen, who sacks Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson.

Santa Margarita can't advance ball.

TOUCHDOWN! Centennial RB Braylin Drake bulls in from 11 yards out but Huskies miss PAT, leaving Santa Margarita ahead 21-20 with with 7:33 left.

START OF FOURTH QUARTER

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Santa Margarita 21, Centennial 14

CENTENNIAL defense stops Santa Margarita on 4th down but then Santa Margarita CB Caron Williams get pick-6 to push the Eagles back ahead 21-14 on last play of third quarter.

Santa Margarita struggles to move ball but Centennial's Jefferson then sacked by fast Eagles defense.

TOUCHDOWN! Jaden Jefferson perfect 24-yard strike to Kennie Leggett. Ties game at 14-14.

Jaden Jefferson misfires on throw to 2 wide open receivers.

Centennial at Santa Margarita 41-yard line.

Centennial defense forces 4th-and-1. Huskies LB Matt Salmeron trips up Jaion Smith on 4th down, forcing turnover on downs!

Jaion Smith nice run around left.

Santa Margarita takes over at 35-yard line.

THIRD QUARTER

HALFTIME STATS: Santa Margarita 70 rushing yards, Centennial 36. Santa Margarita 34 passing yards, Centennial 78. Santa Margarita 104 total yards, Centennial 114. 1 turnover for Centennial.

HALFTIME: Santa Margarita 14, Centennial 7

SACKED! Centennial DL Chris Anderson makes big sack of Santa Margarita QB Fletch Palmer to turn back late drive by the Eagles.

Santa Margarita pass to Kiyan Callis for 1st down.

TOUCHDOWN! Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson scrambles left under pressure, then throws pass to Quentin Hale, who makes tremendous leaping grab in the left corner of the end zone. PAT good. Santa Margarita 14, Centennial 7 with 1:30 left in the first half.

FIRST DOWN! Big 15-yard pass from Jaden Jefferson to Quentin Hale to 9-yard line!

Jaden Jefferson scrambles for first down.

BIG PASS frrom Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson to Quentin Hale for 30-yard gain! Santa Margarita still leads 14-0 with less than 4 minutes left in second quarter.

Consecutive penalties on Centennial puts Huskies into 3rd-and-11.

Centennial at own 44. 3rd and 1.

Centennial's Quentin Hale takes ensuing kickoff and gets popped, losing ball. But ball is ruled down.

TOUCHDOWN: Big run by Santa Margarita QB Fletch Palmer takes ball down to 3-yard line. Jaion Smith then runs around left end for TD! Santa Margarita leads 14-0 with 6:11 left in second quarter. Eagles have been strong in the running game and on the defensive front so far.

Jaion Smith short run up middle for Santa Margarita.

Santa Margarita drives to Centennial 23. Incomplete pass on 1st down.

SACKED! 4th-and-1: Cruz Nunez sacks Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson! Turnover on downs.

3RD-AND-5 for Centennial. Davis comes close to first down on big run.

START OF SECOND QUARTER

START OF 1ST QUARTER

Teams still warming up up at 7:07pm PST.

Santa Margarita kicks off to Centennial. Touchback.

Two incomplete passes by Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson, with second nearly picked off by linebacker Cruz Nunez.

Third-down pass to Mason Fowler for first down.

Malaki Davis then fumbles the ball away on first down.

Santa Margarita gets big short-yardage run by Adrian Petero for first down.

TOUCHDOWN: Eagles get to Centennial 4-yard line after penalty on Huskies. Two plays later, Petero bulls in from 1-yard line!

Kai Koga kicks the extra point and Santa Margarita leads 7-0 with 5:48 left in the first quarter. Eagles convert turnover into points.

Santa Margarita kicks off to Centennial. Touchback.

SACKED! Kingston Jimmerson huge sack on Centennial quarterback.

Another tackle for loss and then incomplete pass by Jaden Jefferson. 3-and-out. 4th-and-16, Short punt out of the end zone.

Another big penalty on Centennial. Santa Margarita 1st down at Centennial 22. Eagles get short-field again!

Short run and then incomplete pass by Santa Margarita QB Fletch Palmer. 3rd down now.

Palmer passes to freshman Kiyan Callis. 4th-and-1. Petero stopped by Centennial line! Turnover on downs!

Centennial QB Jaden Jefferson nice run on first down. Malaki Davis bottled up, and then Gavin Lorge catches nice pass from Jefferson.

Centennial RB Malaki Davis big run up the middle, crossing midfield.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Santa Margarita 7, Centennial 0

Preview

What: Centennial (1-0) at Santa Margarita (1-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 28 – 7 p.m. PST
Where: Santa Margarita High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
Live Stream: Watch Live on the NFHS Network

Santa Margarita Looking to Make Run at Another CIF Open Title

Santa Margarita is looking to make a run at another CIF Open championship under head coach Carson Palmer, a former USC and NFL quarterback.

The Eagles flew past two-time defending FHSAA Class 4A state runner-up of Jones out of Orlando, 27-0, in last week’s season-opener. Fletch Palmer, the son of Carson, completed 21 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two TDs. Freshman standout Kiyan Callis caught nine passes for 105 yards and one TD for Santa Margarita.

Tight end Luke Gazzaniga, a Kansas commit, and linebacker Ayden Steen also highlight a talented Santa Margarita roster.

Centennial Features Top Transfers, Division I Commits

Centennial is coming off a dominating 41-21 win against Servite (Anaheim) in which quarterback Jaden Jefferson, a Hawaii commit, completed 19 of 24 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 92 yards and two scores.

Wide receiver Quentin Hale, a USC commit, caught eight passes for 155 yards and two TDs. Both Hale and Jefferson transferred to Centennial from Cathedral (Los Angeles) this year.

Centennial also boasts senior defensive lineman Miles Schirmer, a USC commit, and senior defensive back Jaden Walk-Green, a Washington commit.

Watch Live on the NFHS Network

Follow along with our Live Update with the NFHS Network's Live Stream of the Santa Margarita vs. Centennial showdown from Southern California. (NFHS subscription required.)

Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962

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