High School

Santa Margarita shocks Mater Dei late on homecoming: Live score recap - October 10, 2025

USC commit Trent Mosley scores on 2-yard run with 5:04 remaining to give Eagles the lead; Defense does the rest in Trinity League shocker

Mitch Stephens

Santa Margarita knocked off a nationally-ranked team for the second time this season with a shocking 7-6 win over Mater Dei on the Monarchs' homecoming at the Santa Ana Bowl
Santa Margarita knocked off a nationally-ranked team for the second time this season with a shocking 7-6 win over Mater Dei on the Monarchs' homecoming at the Santa Ana Bowl /

Former NFL star quarterback Carson Palmer took the head coaching job at his alma mater Santa Margarita in the spring, hoping to instill new life into the promising program.

But he probably couldn't have anticipated this.

For the second time this season, his Eagles pulled off a national stunner, shocking Mater Dei 7-6 in a Trinity League slugfest Friday night at the Santa Ana Bowl.

Mater Dei (5-2) entered No. 7 in the country according to High School On Si, and Santa Margarita was No. 25.

This likely wasn't the offensive juggernaut Palmer had likely anticipated to build. As they've done all season, the Eagles relied on a fast, hard-hitting, sound defense, plus a most welcomed return of the team's top offensive weapon.

Trent Mosley, the Eagles' big-play receiver the last three seasons who missed five of the first six games with a foot injury, returned to score the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard run with 5:05 remaining and the extra point by Tyler Wiegand put Santa Margarita up 7-6.

The touchdown was set up on a 60-yard completion from Trace Johnson to Adrian Petero, a freshman running back. That put the ball on the Mater Dei 18. A 12-yard completion to Mosely, the 2023 Trinity League MVP, set up his own touchdown.

Mater Dei (5-2) converted two first downs, the second on fourth down, but on a second fourth-down situation from its own 45, a pass to Georgia-bound junior wide receiver Gavin Honre, running wide open in the middle of the field beyond the secondary was slightly overthown by Wisconsin bound quarterback Ryan Hopkins with a little more than 2 minutes remaining.

The Eagles (5-2) rattled off a couple first downs to run out the clock, breaking a lopsided 11-game losing streak in the series to the Monarchs, setting off a wild celebration.

On Aug. 28 at home, Santa Margarita defeated another Southern California juggernaut in Corona Centennial, a team that defeated Mater Dei two weeks later. That was a 33-27 overtime thriller. This one didn't resemble that game in the least. The celebration, however, did.

Check out all the play-by-play and pregame notes below.

PREGAME: Wth a former NFL quarterback Carson Palmer now leading the program, Santa Margarita's football team clearly wants to get where Friday's opponent, Mater Dei, is at.

Funny, because the Monarchs want to get where Mater Dei is normally at.

Something will likely have to give when the two Trinity League powers collide at Santa Ana Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

WATCH: NFHS

Santa Margarita (4-2) actually has the upper hand on one common opponent this season with a 33-27 overtime win over Corona Centennial on Aug. 28. But just two weeks later, Centennial handed Mater Dei its first defeat to a Southern Section opponent not named St. John Bosco since 2015, with a 43-36 shocker.

On the other hand, Mater Dei (5-1) went on the road to secure a wild 27-24 win at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), which on Sept. 27 travel to Santa Margarita to score a 14-0 victory. Though the Monarchs have won all of their games besides Centennial, they haven't been their usual dominant self, despite a roster full of college bound players.

Players to Watch

High school football
The Eagles in Trinity League action versus Orange Lutheran. / Terry Jack

(Pos, Name, Year, Calif. recruiting rank, college commitment)

Santa Margarita

  • DL Simote Katoanga, Sr., 8, USC
    WR Trent Mosley, Sr., 16, USC
    S Logan Hirou, Sr., 87, undecided
    DL Manoah Faupusa, Sr., 92, Arizona
    CB Jayden Crowder, Sr., 99, Cal
    OL Niniva Nicholson, Sr., 176, Arizona State
    QB Trace Johnson, Sr., 187, Tulane
    DL Isaia Vandermade, Jr., 87, undecided

Mater Dei

  • TE Mark Bowman, Sr., 3, USC
    OT Kodi Greene, Sr., 5, Washington
    WR Chris Henry Jr., Sr., 6, Ohio State
    WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Sr., 9, Ohio State
    DL Tomuhini Topui, Sr., 12, USC
    DE Shaun Scott, Sr., 30, USC
    QB Ryan Hopkins, Sr., 65, Wisconsin
    CB CJ Lavender, Sr., 97, Washington
    RB Justin Lewis, Sr., 178, UMass
    CB Aaryn Washington, Jr., 5, undecided
    CB Danny Lang, Jr., 7, undecided
    DL Montana Toilolo, Jr., 32, undecided
    WR Gavin Honre, Jr., 38, Georgia
    OL Lex Mailangi, Jr., 57, undecided
    CB Patrick Hall, Jr., 71, undecided
    DL Matamatagi Uiagalelei, Jr., 84, undecided
    LB DJ Clanton, Jr., 88, undecided

MORE FACTS/LINKS

WINS IN SERIES SINCE 2004: Mater Dei 18, Santa Margarita 3
WIN STREAK IN SERIES: Mater Dei 11
STATE RANKING: Mater Dei #4, Santa Margarita #7
NATIONAL RANKING: Mater Dei #7, Santa Margarita #25

CHECK BACK FOR LIVE GAME UPDATES HERE

1ST QUARTER

Santa Margarita driving: After Mater Dei punts the ball away, the Eagles were stuck deep in their own territory. USC-bound Trent Mosley, just back from injury, makes immediate impact. Draws a PI and then hauls in third down catch from Johnson. Eagles to its own 40. 3rd-and-7. Incompletion in pass for Mosley, who seemed to get hit before ball got there. No call.

MUFFED PUNT: Margarita punt, ball muffed. Santa Margarita gets first big break, 1st-and-10 at Mater Dei 28.

TURNOVER SANTA MARGARITA: After one first down, two short runs loses two and on the second SM fumbles and Mater Dei recovers at the 18. Penalty on MD after recovery, gives Monarchs 1st-and-10 from own 9. Odd sequence. Referees not clear at all. No indication of fumble and recovery until very late. Still no score. Late 1Q.

BIG 1ST DOWN: 4th-and-1 from own 18, Mater Dei goes for it and tight end Bowman runs out of shotgun for five yards and first down.

END OF 1: No score.

2ND QUARTER

MATER DEI DRIVING: A big 33-yard run by Lewis puts Mater Dei inside the 20. Early 2Q.

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI: Kayden Dixon-Wyatt hauls in perfect out from Hopkins for 11-yard touchdown. Mater Dei takes a 6-0 lead. 2-point conversion run fails. 5:07 2Q.

BACK-TO-BACK PIs: Mater Dei called for back-to-back pass interference calls on long passes down each sideline, gives Santa Margarita ball at MD 49.

MATER DEI INTERCEPTION: A long Johnson pass over the middle is intercepted by Washington-bound CJ Lavender, returns past midfield but Mater Dei once again with a penalty on the return. Loses about 40 yards net as the Monarchs start at own 11. 1:25 2Q.

DEFENSIVE STAND: Both offenses go nowhere in the last two possessions. Big hits and defenses rule the half of a first half that takes 50 minutes. HALFTIME: Mater Dei 6, Santa Margarita 0.

3RD QUARTER

EAGLES PUNT: After one first down, Johnson is sacked on third down by Makai Thomas. Loss of 13. Short punt gives Mater Dei ball at midfield. 9:25 3Q.

EAGLES HOLD! Hopkins delivers 15-yard completion to Honore to inside the 30. But drive stalls. on 4th down, instead of try to kick a 45-yard field go, Hopkins pass falls incomplete. Santa Margarita takes over own downs at own 28.

BIG SCREEN PASS! Johnson sets up screen beautifully to Jaion Smith for 35 yards, gets out of hole. Ball at Mater Dei 41. Penalty pushed back to midfield. Now 4th and 10 at MD 40. See what Palmer does. Punt? Late 3Q.

QUICK KICK: Smart call from Palmer, Johnson out of shotgun, punts it 34 yards to MD 6. Late 3Q. Mater Dei 6, Santa Margarita 0.

BIG OFFSIDE: On 3rd-and-1 from own 15, Mater Dei draws Santa Margarita offside. Gives Mater Dei first down at own 20.

INTERCEPTION SANTA MARGARITA! Hopkins throws right into coverage, Davide Morales with interception down to the MD 10, but celebration call pushes it back to 25. Near end of 3Q.

END OF 3: Mater Dei 6, Santa Margarita 0

4TH QUARTER

LAVENDER 2ND INTERCEPTION! Backup QB Jules Guerdat comes in because Johnson's helmet came off on the last play of the 3Q. Guerdat's pass in the corner of end zone, intercepted by Lavender, his second of the game. Mater Dei defense is stout.

MATER DEI PUNTS: After one first down, Hopkins just misses Bowman on a sure touchdown from about 65 yards. Santa Margarita takes over at the 23.

BIG GAIN: Johnson to freshman Adrian Petero for 60 yards, puts ball in red zone.

1ST AND GOAL: Johnson to Mosley for 11 yards, makes it 1st and goal from 4. 7:32 4Q. Mater Dei still leads 6-0. Game likely to be decided here.

SANTA MARGARITA TOUCHDOWN! Mosley out of the shotgun, runs it in from 2. XP is good. Santa Margarita 7, Mater Dei 6. 5:06 4Q.

MATER DEI DRIVING: After conversion on 4th down, it is 4th and 5 from own 45.

iNCOMPLETION GIVES SM BACK THE BALL: Honore wide open but overthow gives Santa Margarita back the ball and one FD away from pulling off the upset.

FIRST DOWNS, SANTA MARGARITA RUNS OUT THE CLOCK: Two first down and this one is over. Santa Margarita breaks 11-game

FINAL: Santa Margarita 7, Mater Dei 6

Published |Modified
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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