Eagles 36 - JSerra 12
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 23, 2026 – The lightening that delayed the game for over an hour and steady first have rain didn't faze the Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS) Eagles as they used big plays to remain undefeated and pulling away from the JSerra Catholic Lions in the second half for a convincing 36-12 win at Saddleback College. It was the fifteenth-consecutive win for the Eagles (9-0, 4-0) and allowed the hosts to secure at least a share of their second-consecutive Trinity League title. With the loss, JSerra Catholic fell to 4-5 overall and 0-4 in league play.
Freshman linebacker Aydan Steen recorded two tackles for loss in helping the stout Eagle defense force a punt on the Lions opening possession. Fletch Palmer completed two passes to freshman wide out Kiyan Callis and another to Grant Mosley before lightening forced a delay for over an hour. When play resumed in the rain, SMCHS was led by runs of 11, nine and five yards by Adrian Petero (19 carries for 114 yards) set up first and goal at the Lion six. Petero running to his right was net by several defenders and lost control of the ball on the four ending the drive.
After forcing another Lion punt, which was returned by junior Ryan Clark for 12 yards to the JSerra Catholic 30 yard line, runs by Petero and receptions by Mosley (7 catches for 71 yards on the evening) moved the ball to the visitor's eight, but on the last play of the first quarter Lion outside linebacker Grayson Matvay jumped up and intercepted a slant route and returned it over 80 yards before Grant Mosley made a touchdown-saving tackle. Two plays later quarterback Hayes Cloutier took it in from two yards out to make it 6-0. The PAT was blocked by nose tackle Tonga Uhila who had a remarkable game with a forced fumble, quarterback hurry, four tackles including a tackle for loss and a pass defensed.
Taking over with 11:32 left in the first half, the Eagles used three runs by Petero to reach their 43 yard line before their drive stalled forcing a beautiful 54-yard punt by senior Colin Hicks that pinned the Lions on their own three yard line. Three plays later from the seven, freshman edge player Kaleb Herndon (eight tackles, two TFL's, a pass defensed, and 1.5 sacks on the night) applied backside pressure on Cloutier who, while in Herndon's grasp and falling to the ground, threw the ball into the turf for intentional grounding, an automatic safety, closing the deficit to 6-2 with 7:49 left in the half.
After the free kick, Palmer found fellow junior Grant Van Raaphorst for 42- and 18-yard completions, but the drive stalled inside the Lion 10 yard line and Kai Koga's 27-yard field goal attempt was pulled wide left at the 4:22 mark. Junior defensive end Kingston Jimmerson and Herndon combined on a key third down sack to force a punt which was returned 17 yards by junior Ryan Clark to put the Eagles in business on the Lion 26 yard line. Three plays later Petero swept around right end and hit pay dirt from nine yards out for his fifteenth touchdown on the year with 54 seconds left in the half. Koga's PAT made it 9-6 and closed out the first half scoring.
The second half saw the rain stop, but the Eagles displayed some lightening and thunder of their own. Junior Luca Amaya returned the second half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 16-6. The Lions' first two drives of the second half ended in punts. Sophomore linebacker Dax Karney recorded a 17-yard sack of the elusive Cloutier, and Herndon broke up a pass to end their first drive while relentless pressure from USA Today midseason All-America selection Steen (eight tackles, four hurries and 0.5 sacks) forced Cloutier to regularly try to hit cheerleaders to avoid sacks on the next one. SMCHS then went on a ten-play 60-yard drive that took 4:13 off the clock that was capped by an eight-yard shovel pass from Palmer to Mosley to increase the Eagle lead to 23-6. The Lions were briefly injected with life as the ensuing kickoff was nearly returned for a score by, interestingly, Luca Deleon, but Detavian Miller's touchdown-saving tackle. This seemed to refocus the hosts as on the next play the relentless 6-3, 280-pound Jimmerson chased Cloutier around the backfield before the senior signal caller was hit by Uhila who forced a fumble which was then picked up by his aforementioned line mate who then raced untouched 79 yards for a scoop and score to make it 29-6 with 9:06 remaining.
Junior linebacker Jaion Smith (three carries for 41 yards) took over for Petero at running back after the defense forced yet another punt, and ended a quick 48-yard drive with a 28-yard burst over left tackle to make it 36-6 at the 4:28 mark. The Lions added a garbage time score on the last play of the game to make the final 36-12. Overall, the Eagles outgained the Lions 327-121 yards and by allowing only 69 yards rushing, propped up by picking up 30 of that on their last drive, it was the ninth-consecutive game this season SMCHS has limited their opponent to under 100 yards rushing.
The Eagles have now won six of the least seven games against the Lions in a series that dates back to the formation of the Trinity League in 2006. Santa Margarita closes out the regular season next week when they travel to Orange Coast College on Friday October 30 to play the Orange Lutheran Lancers (5-4, 2-2). A win would be the third time, and first since 1997, that the Eagles completed league play 5-0. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. The CIF-Sothern Section - Division 1 playoff draw will be released at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1.
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 36 |
| JSerra | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
JS – Cloutier 3 run (Leddy kick)
SM – Steen Safety
SM – Petero 9 run (Koga kick)
SM – Amaya 96 kickoff return (Koga kick)
SM – G. Mosley 8 pass from F. Palmer (Koga kick)
SM – Jimmerson 79 fumble return (kick failed)
SM – J. Smith 28 run (Koga kick)
JS – Hilgenberg 3 run (Leddy kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Petero 19-114, J. Smith 3-41;
Passing: 55SM - F. Palmer 14-23-1-174;
Receiving: SM - G. Mosley 7-71, Van Raaphorst 3-75;
Summary by Adrian Peters
Statistics by Shane Mielke
