GAME RECAP: Mosley, Eagles Snag The Open Division Title For The First Time Since 2011, Their Third In Program History

The CIF Open Division State Championship closed Championship Saturday under the lights at Saddleback College, where Santa Margarita delivered a statement performance on the biggest stage, overwhelming Northern California powerhouse De La Salle 48–13 to capture the program’s first Open Division state title. In a matchup loaded with pedigree and star power, first-year head coach Carson Palmer capped a remarkable debut season by outclassing a Spartans program with seven state championships to its name.

First Quarter — Eagles Strike Early, De La Salle Reels

De La Salle received the opening kickoff following Santa Margarita’s decision to defer, but the Eagles’ defense immediately set the tone. After a short completion on third down, the Spartans were forced to punt on their opening possession.

Santa Margarita wasted no time igniting the crowd. QB Trace Johnson orchestrated a crisp opening drive, repeatedly feeding Trent Mosley, who accounted for most of the yardage. Penalties against De La Salle pushed the Eagles deep into Spartan territory, and Mosley capped the drive himself — powering in from 7 yards out via the wildcat with Jaion Smith leading the way.
Santa Margarita 7, De La Salle 0 (8:00, 1st)

De La Salle answered with its best early drive, highlighted by explosive runs from Duece Jones-Drew and Jaden Jefferson, but the momentum evaporated when a 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Simote Katoanga, swinging the energy firmly back to the Eagles’ sideline.

Santa Margarita capitalized immediately. Johnson found Luke Gazzaniga to move the chains before hitting Mosley in stride for a 34-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 13–0.The Eagles weren’t finished. After another stalled De La Salle possession, Mosley flipped field position with a big return, and Johnson hit Gazzaniga again — this time for a 20-yard touchdown with under a minute left in the quarter.
Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 0 (0:42, 1st)

Second Quarter — Santa Margarita Overwhelms, De La Salle Searches for Answers

De La Salle opened the second quarter hoping to stabilize, but Santa Margarita’s defensive front refused to yield. Dash Fifita buried Brayden Knight for a loss, forcing another punt.

A rare mistake by the Eagles — a mishandled exchange recovered by Landon Miller — briefly gave De La Salle life. The Spartans took advantage, leaning on the quarterback run game and option looks before Jaden Jefferson punched in a 4-yard touchdown to get De La Salle on the board.
Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 7 (6:43, 2nd)

The response from Santa Margarita was immediate — and emphatic.

Mosley ripped off gains of 17 and 44 yards on consecutive touches, and Jaion Smith finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. Johnson then found Ryan Clark for the two-point conversion.
Santa Margarita 27, De La Salle 7

The Eagles kept their foot down. After forcing another punt, Johnson led a surgical late-half drive. A pass interference penalty set up shop in the red zone, and Mosley capped it himself — scoring from 6 yards out and bulldozing his way in for the two-point conversion.
Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7 (1:07, 2nd)

De La Salle managed one final drive aided by penalties, but Leki Holani recorded a sack to end the threat. Santa Margarita did not punt once in the opening half.

Halftime: Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7

Second Half — Eagles Finish the Job, Defense Delivers the Exclamation Point

Santa Margarita opened the second half with possession but turned it over on a backward pass recovered by De La Salle. The Spartans leaned on their run-heavy approach and converted multiple first downs, eventually cashing in on a 7-yard touchdown run by Jefferson. The PAT was blocked by Manoah Faupusa, keeping the margin wide.
Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 13 (4:09, 3rd)

Any hope of a comeback was short-lived.

Freshman Adrian Petero provided a physical spark, ripping off a 15-yard run to flip field position. On third-and-long, Johnson trusted Mosley on a contested deep ball — a 28-yard catch that set up another score. Luke Gazzaniga hauled in his second touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter.
Santa Margarita 41, De La Salle 13

De La Salle attempted one final push, highlighted by a 44-yard completion to Jayden Nicholas, but on fourth down, Knight’s pass was swatted away by Katoanga.

Moments later, the Eagles delivered the final dagger.

With the Spartans pressing, Jake Martin stepped in front of a Knight pass and returned it for a pick-six, sealing the Open Division championship and sending the Santa Margarita sideline into celebration.

Final: Santa Margarita 48, De La Salle 13

Santa Margarita captures the CIF Open Division State Championship, adding the program’s third state title (1997, 2011, 2025) and completing one of the most dominant postseason runs in school history. In his first season, Carson Palmer guided the Eagles past a De La Salle program that entered the night with seven state titles — and snapped the Spartans’ hopes of ending an eight-game championship-game skid.

Top Performers: 

• Santa Margarita:
  • Trace Johnson: 17-20 with 247 pass yards and 4 TDs
  • Trent Mosley: 11 receptions with 183 yards and 2 TDs
  • Leki Holani: 10 Total tackles with 2 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss
• De La Salle:
  • Jaden Jefferson: 31 rush yards with 2 TDs
  • Brayden Knight: 11-21 with 102 pass yards
  • Landon Miller with 5 total tackles, 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss. 1 fumble recovery