Eagles 55 - Highland 7
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 4, 2026 – Fletch Palmer completed 11 of 14 passes for 126 yards and two scores as Santa Margarita improved to 3-0 with a commanding 55-7 win over Palmdale Highland (0-3) before a crowd of 3,000 on Senior Night. It was the Eagles' nineth consecutive win. The Eagles used big plays on offense and special teams coupled with a smothering defense to outgain the visiting Bulldogs 327-85.
After a quick three-and-out on Highland's opening series, The Eagles went 42 yards on three plays highlighted by a 27-yard completion from Palmer to Grant Van Raaphorst (four receptions for 91 yards) and capped by a five-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Adrian Petero (6 carries for 63 yards) at the 9:53 mark of the first quarter. After forcing another punt, Petero scampered for a 35-yard gain setting up a five-yard touchdown pass from Palmer to junior wideout Ryan Clark to make it 14-0 at the 7:42 mark. Getting the ball back at the Bulldog 41 with 4:08 left in the quarter, Palmer broke free from the grasp of a defensive lineman and found senior tight end Luke Gazzaniga for a 16-yard gain. A 16-yard completion from the junior signal caller to Van Raaphorst set up first and goal where Petero scored his second touchdown of the night giving the Eagles a 21-0 lead with 1:59 left in the opening stanza. By this point, the Bulldogs had run 15 plays for minus 3 yards led by sophomore defensive end Kingston Jimmerson's three tackles including a sack, junior Jaion Smith's three tackles, including one for a loss, and junior defensive lineman Chris Kraninger's sack.
The second quarter began with the Eagles missing a field goal, but they got the ball back at the 8:20 mark and went on a six-play, 87-yard drive highlighted by senior quarterback Matt Smith (3 of 7 for 78 yards) hitting freshman wide receiver Kiyan Callis for a spectacular 51 yard reception setting up Luca Amaya's four-yard touchdown to make it 28-0 with 4:58 left in the half. Palmer returned to the game to run the two-minute offense with 1:54 remaining and found Smith twice, Van Raaphorst for 38 yards and finally Callis (two receptions for 60 yards) for 10 and the score. A missed PAT made it 34-0 at the half.
At this point, the Eagles had outgained the Bulldogs 247-16 and effectively cleared the bench for the remainder for the game. In the third quarter senior running back Noah Grande scored his first two career touchdowns to make it 48-0. With a running clock in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs managed a late score as quarterback Jalen Wyatt led the Bulldogs on an eleven-play 70-yard drive and he found Arturo Carrillo for a 19-yard scoring toss; however, the Eagles immediately responded as sophomore wide receiver Ford Davenport returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown to close out the scoring.
Defensively, the Eagles allowed only 85 total yards on 46 plays and six first downs while posting 13 tackles for loss. Leaders on that side of the ball include Kaleb Herndon with 5 tackles (2 solo, 3 asst.), Daxton Karney with 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 asst.) and 1 sack. Detavian Miller added 6 tackles (4 solo, 2 asst.) on kickoffs.
Next week the Eagles play host to Sacramento Inderkum (1-1) on Saturday, September 12th at San Juan Hills High School. Kickoff is set for 7:30.
| Santa Margarita | 21 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 55 |
| Highland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
SM – Petero 5 run (Koga kick)
SM – Clark 5 pass from F. Palmer (Koga kick)
SM – Petero 1 run (Koga kick)
SM – Amaya 4 run (Koga kick)
SM – Callis 9 pass from F. Palmer (Koga kick failed)
SM – Grande 1 run (Koga kick)
SM – Grande 11 run (Koga kick)
SM – Davenport 88 kickoff return (Koga kick)
HI – Carrillo 19 pass from Wyatt (Perez kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Petero 6-3, Amaya 8-36, Grande 4-15;
Passing: SM - F. Palmer 11-14-0-126, M. Smith 3-7-0-78;
Receiving: SM - Van Raaphorst 4-91, Callis 2- 60;
Compiled by Adrian Peters
Statistics by Shane Mielke
Football roundup: Mater Dei, Fountain Valley win, Mission Viejo loses to Folsom
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 4, 2026 – Santa Margarita 55 Highland 7: Santa Margarita scored the first 48 points of the game in a rout of Highland at Saddleback College.
The Eagles’ defense had 17 tackles for a loss with four sacks. Kingston Jimmerson had three tackles for a loss with a sack and freshman Detavian Miller had a team-high six tackles.
Fletch Palmer completed 11 of 14 passes for 126 yards with two touchdowns for Santa Margarita (3-0). Kiyan Callis and Ryan Clark had touchdown receptions while Grant Van Raaphorst led the receivers with 91 yards. Adrian Petero and Noah Grande each had two touchdown runs and Luca Amaya added one.
By Michael Huntley & Steve Fryer
Saturday, September 5, 2026
The Orange County Register
