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Live game update summary: Santa Margarita wins first CIF Open Division title in style, romps over De La Salle

Last game of season in California is one-sided affair as Trace Johnson throws four touchdowns, Trent Mosley, Eagles dominate from start to finish

Mitch Stephens

Santa Margarita senior WR Trent Mosley and USC commit had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the first half when the Eagles raced to a 35-7 lead in the CIF State Open Division championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
Santa Margarita senior WR Trent Mosley and USC commit had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the first half when the Eagles raced to a 35-7 lead in the CIF State Open Division championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. / Photo by Todd Shurtleff

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Trent Mosley took a bubble screen, raced, zigged and zagged up the right sideline before leveling two two defensive backs in the end zone.

The 34-yard touchdown late in the first quarter set the tone for thoroughly dominating Santa Margarita 47-13 CIF Open Division championship win over De La Salle Saturday night at Saddleback College.

Mosley, voted the Player of the Game, a USC signee, finsiehd with 11 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns and added a TD rushing as the Eagles (11-3) raced to a 35-7 halftime lead en route to its second state title and first Open championship under first-year coach Carson Palmer.

"I can't describe how great this win was," Mosley said. "It was so much fun to win this championship with my guys. I couldn't have done it without all the work all of us put in. I feel very blessed to be part of this team."

The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL standout quarterback watched Santa Margarita dominate in all facets, while piling up 377 yards to180 for De La Salle (12-1), which lost its eight straight state-final contest.

Tulsa-bound quarterback Trace Johnson was superb, completing 17 of 20 for 247 yards and four touchdowns, two Mosley and two to Luke Gazzaniga. The defense was stifling at times and sacked De La Salle quarterback Brayden Knight four times.

Siua Holani capped the victory with a 43-yard pick-6 to put the finishing touches on a nearly perfect win.

North Carolina-bound athlete Jaden Jefferson rushed for both De La Salle touchdowns on runs of 4 and 7 yards.

(Check back later for more quotes, photos, stats, and all the live updates at the bottom)

PREPGAME

Welcome to the 2025 CIF State Championships from Saddleback College.

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De La Salle (white) and Santa Margarita shake hands before Saturday's CIF State Open Division title game. / Photo by Todd Shurtleff

This is the fourth and final game from Saturday, pitting two nationally-ranked teams that have never met. Come back at 8 p.m. and enjoy the live game updates with live tweets, video and afterward a summary with quotes and stats.

8 p.m. — Open Division, De La Salle-Concord (12-0) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3)

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De La Salle senior quarterback Brayden Knight threw for 102 yards on Saturday / Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Section: De La Salle (NCS), Santa Margarita (SS)
State record: De La Salle 7-10, Santa Margarita 1-0
Win streaks: De La Salle 12, Santa Margarita 5
Famous alums: De La Salle — Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL), Amani Toomer (NFL), Aaron Taylor (NFL), D.J. Williams (NFL), Henry To’oTo’o (NFL), Barry brothers (NBA), Kristian Ipsen (diver, Olympic bronze medalist), Chris Wondolowski (soccer); Kyle Harrison (baseball); Santa Margarita — Carson Palmer (NFL, current coach), Klay Thompson (NBA), Trayce Thompson (MLB), A.J. Cruz (NFL), Mychel Thompson (NBA, broadcaster) 

TOP PLAYERS

De La Salle — RB-DB Jaden Jefferson (UNC-signee), LB Bubba Vargas, LB Landon Miller, QB Brayden Knight, OL-DL Mya Telona (signed to Cal), TE Landon Cook (signed to Oregon State), RB-DB Duece Jones-Drew (son of Maurice)

Santa Margarita — WR-CB Trent Mosley (13 TDs, USC signee), DE Isaia Vandermade (junior leads team with 9.0 sacks, eight in the last three games), QB Trace Johnson (Tulane-signee 2,528 passing yards, 18 TDs). DL Dimote Katoanga (6-5, 260-pounder demands double teams, headed to USC), OL-DL Nineveh Nicholson (signed to Arizona State), OL-DL Manoah Faupusa (Arizona signeee). 

LIVE UPDATES

1ST QUARTER

De La Salle one first down: Though the Spartans get one first down on a short completion to Trisshon Wright, four runs totaled six yards. Not a good sign for Spartans.

TOUCHDOWN MOSLEY: Well, that didn't take long and didn't look particularly difficult. Tren Mosley handles the ball four of the five plays, including a 7-yard touchdown out of the wildcat. Santa Margarita 7, De La Salle 0. 8:00. 1Q.

JONES-DREW SIGHTING: One of the most famous player in De La Salle history is Maurice Jones-Drew. His son Duece just busted off a 21-yard run putting the ball at the Santa Margarita 17.

FIELD GOAL BLOCKED: The drive stopped cold at the 11 and Justin Uribarri's 33-yard field goal was blocked by Simote Katoanga. Santa Margarita takes over at the 30. 4:38 1Q. Still 7-0 SM.

FLAG FILLED: Beyond De La Salle's special team woes and inability to run to this point, the Spartans just commited their fourth penalty. As if the Eagles need any more help.

MOSLEY AGAIN: Simply wow. Trent Mosley is just unreal. takes quick screen right and is gone with an exclaimation point at the goal line. 34-yard touchdown. Santa Margarita 13, De La Salle 0. 3:39 1Q. XP misses.

UGH, ROUT IS ON! After De La Salle loses 12 yards on three plays, it takes Santa Margarita just two plays to make it 19-0 on 20-yard touchdown pass Trace Johnson to Luke Gazzaniga. Wide open. This has already got ugly. 0:42.

END OF 1: Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 0.

2ND QUARTER

FUMBLE SANTA MARGARITA: A breath of life for De La Salle, fumble by Jason Smith, Landon Miller recovers for Spartans at 38.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE: Keyed by runs of 11 yards by Knight and 11 by Jones-Drew, Jaden Jefferson powers in from 4-yards out for a touchdown. 6:43 2Q. Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 7.

MOSLEY, EAGLES RESPOND: Three more completions to Mosley for 59 yards keyed 80-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Jaion Smith. Easy peasy. SM's offense looks just as impressive as its defense. Santa Margarita 27, De La Salle 7. (2-point conversion pass was good). 3:22 2Q.

MOSLEY, MOSLEY, MOSLEY: Simply amazing. After a circus 23-yard touchdown catch was wiped out on debatable call, Mosley runs right for 17 yards, than takes a pass from Johnson on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Then completely bottled up on the 2-point conversion, he powers into the end zone. The kid can do it any which way. He looks like the most complete player in the state. Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7. 1:07 2Q.

SACK TO FINISH/HALFTIME STATS: A fitting end to the half as Leki Holani sacks Brayden Knight. It was a dominating first half performance....242 total yards for Santa Margarita to 70 for De La Salle: First downs: 16-9. Trent Mosley with eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. SM QB Trace Johnson 12 of 14 for 190 yards and three TDs. No punts for the Eagles.

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Santa Margarita's defense was dominating in the first half allowing just 70 yards on 34 plays, while sacking De La Salle quarterback Brayden Knight three times. / Photo by Todd Shurtleff

3RD QUARTER

DE LA SALLE SPUNK: The Spartans get a sack by TJ Finau and then after a bad pitch, Duece Jones-Drew blows up Johnson and recovers the fumble at the Santa Margarita 41.

TOUCHDOWN DE LA SALLE: It's Jefferson again with his second TD run, a 7-yarder as Spartans cash in a Santa Margarita turnover for the second time. Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 13. 4:07 3Q.

MOSLEY WITH ANOTHER GEM: To close the third, Mosley makes circus 28-yard catch setting up first-and-goal at the end of the third quarter. Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 13.

4TH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN SANTA MARGARITA! Trace Johnson with his fourth touchdown pass, a 2-yarder to Luke Gazzaniga. Completes 9-play, 64-yard drive. Santa Margarita 41, De La Salle 13. 11:46 4Q.

MORE SANTA MARGARITA PRESSURE: On 4th down at the SM 15 after a brilliant 44-yard reception from Knight to Jayden Nicholas, Simote Katoanga pressures the De La Salle quarterback and forces an incompletion. SM has sacked Knight three times and forced several incompletions.

IMPRESSIVE FRESHMAN: Santa Margarita ninth-grader Adrian Petero has ripped off three double-digit-yard run. What a future he has.

PICK 6 SANTA MARGARITA: Senior corner Siua Holani with a pick 6, 43 yards puts the finishing touches on this one. Santa Margarita 47, De La Salle 13.

FINAL: Santa Margarita 47, De La Salle 13

FINAL STATS

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De La Salle Santa Margarita scoring plays / Photo by CIF Office
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De La Salle Santa Margarita player stats / By CIF staff
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De La Salle Santa Margarita football team statistics / Photo by CIF Staff
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De La Salle Santa Margarita tackles / Photo by CIF Staff

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Mitch Stephens
MITCH STEPHENS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

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