Eagles 41 - Inderkum 0
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA., September 12, 2026 – Sophomore RB Adrian Petero rushed 12 times for 101 yards and scored a career-high 4 touchdowns as Santa Margarita shook off a sluggish first half to pull away for a 41-0 win over Sacramento Inderkum in the finale of the San Juan Hills First Responder's Bowl showcase. The win was the Eagles 10th in a row - their longest since 2012 and tied for the third longest in school history, and improved their record to 4-0 on the season. The Tigers fell to 1-2.
On the fourth play of the game Freshman edge player Kaleb Herndon intercepted a Brody Cole pass and returned it 16 yards to the eleven yard line where two plays later Petero scored from six yards out to make it 7-0 at the 10:29 mark. Inderkum reached midfield on their next drive where it stalled after a four-yard tackle for loss by sophomore corner Rayshawn Brandon, and with 4:07 left in the first quarter junior QB Fletch Palmer led the offense on a balanced 11-play, 86-yard drive covering 5:13 and highlighted by a 20-yard Petero scamper, two completions each to senior tight end Luke Gazzaniga and Freshman wide receiver Kiyan Callis, and capped by Petero's second touchdown - this one from 2 yards out - to make it 14-0. After forcing a three-and-out, the Eagles' third drive ended in a Palmer interception. However, two plays later the Eagles returned the favor as junior safety Jake Martin picked off a Cole pass at the Eagle 21 with 7:25 left in the half. Three plays later Gazzaniga appeared to score on a 59-yard touchdown reception; however, it was negated by a downfield holding call. After three completions to Callis brought the Eagles to the Tiger 14, Palmer threw his second interception with 2:50 left in the half.
The third quarter began on the Eagle 38 where a Petero nine-yard run followed by 28 and two-yard receptions by Callis setting up the Eagles on the 23. A swing pass to Petero resulted in one of the more amazing plays in Eagle history as Petero broke a tackle by summersaulting over the defender and never touching the ground and carried several Tiger defenders down to the one where he capped off the drive with his third touchdown to make it 21-0 with 9:36 left in the quarter. After another Tiger three-and-out the Eagles capitalized on a short punt to go on a quick 36-yard drive finished off by Petero's fourth touchdown, this one from 10 yards out to make it 27-0 with 6:45 remaining. Another Inderkum three-and-out set up the Eagles at the 50 where three plays later Palmer hit Callis on a 33-yard scoring strike to make it 34-0 just one minute later. Junior running back Luca Amaya finished off the scoring with a seven-yard run with 0:42 left in the quarter to make it 41-0. With a running clock the Tigers went on a 15-play, 49-yard drive, but ended with an interception by junior defensive back Jagger Apt.
Palmer completed 16 of 23 passes for 216 yards and a score, along with the two picks. Callis led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 111 yards and a score while Gazzaniga hauled in four for 56 yards. Defensively, the Eagles limited the Tigers to 93 total yards on 42 plays led by senior linebacker Cruz Nuñez's eight tackles including a sack and three for losses, and Martin's seven tackles to go along with his interception.
It was the third time in four games that the Eagles held their opponent under 100 yards of offense. It was also their second shutout of the season and second time the Eagles have not run a play in the fourth quarter due to a running clock.
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 41 |
| Inderkum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SM – Petero 6 run (Koga kick)
SM – Petero 2 run (Koga kick)
SM – Petero 1 run (Koga kick)
SM – Petero 10 run (Koga kick failed)
SM – Callis 10 pass from F. Palmer (Koga kick)
SM – Amaya 7 run (Koga kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Petero 12-101, Amaya 5-20;
Passing: SM - F. Palmer 16-23-2-216;
Receiving: SM - Callis 8-111, L. Gazzaniga 4-56;
Compiled by Adrian Peters
Statistics by Shane Mielke
