Trent Mosley was itchy and itchy, the discomfort of standing on the sideline (not the foot injury that had sidelined him since Aug. 22) weighing on the senior receiver.
The USC Commission chose an exceptional time to return. Trailing by six with 5:06 left in the game, Mosley took advantage of a wildcat rush and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown.
“It sucked knowing I couldn’t go out and help my teammates,” Mosley said. “Now I’m back and we’re doing better.”
The score and the silence of the usually raucous crowd at Santa Ana Stadium told the whole story: For the first time in a long time, the Trinity League was on display. Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-0) played a stunning Southern Section team Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium, defeating Mater Dei 7-6 and setting the stage for a thrilling Trinity League finale after the Eagles upset the Monarchs (4-2, 1-1) for the first time since 2013.
“Unbelievable,” Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer said. “They played like the best defense in the country all year, every week.”
Palmer pointed to defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, who served as interim head coach last season and decided to remain on the Eagles staff, as the catalyst for Santa Margarita's success. Mater Dei had just 175 yards of offense Friday.
Mater Dei High's C.J. Lavender Jr. intercepts a pass intended for Santa Margarita receiver Grant Mosley on Friday night.
(Craig Weston)
“They [Fifita’s] heartbeat on defense,” Palmer said of the group, which includes Fifita’s nephew Dash, a senior linebacker.
In each round, the defensive lines of Santa Margherita and Mater Dei did not budge.
Eagles senior linebacker Vai Manutai received a sack, and moments later Monarchs linemen Montana Loilolo and Matamatagi Uiagalelei rushed in for their sacks. Monarchs linebacker Sean Scott forced a fumble and had 1 1/2 sacks as the Eagles failed to gain 25 yards.
Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins never looked comfortable – other than a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cayden Dixon-Wyatt in the first quarter – ultimately throwing an interception to Eagles cornerback Davide Morales as the third quarter came to an end.
“We're right here, but we're not there yet,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said, referring to plays like Hopkins overthrowing receiver Gavin Honoré for a potential game-winning touchdown that instead turned into a turnover on downs with 2:06 remaining.
Lara continued: “This game of football is a great tool for teaching young people life skills. Not everything in life is going to be perfect.”
Defensive end Trace Johnson of Santa Margarita couldn't get his bearings, throwing two interceptions to Mater Dei defensive end C.J. Lavender Jr.
When Johnson found open space, it was thanks to Mosley.
Mosley, who often lined up next to his brother Grant in the slot, made a team-best six catches for 51 yards and helped set up the winning play after freshman running back Adrian Petero made a 59-yard catch to put the Eagles into Monarch territory.
Trent Mosley's strike and subsequent point – which was enough to win after a failed two-point conversion from Dixon-Wyatt's goal – now sets up territory unprecedented in recent Trinity League seasons.
Yes, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco (who defeated Orange Lutheran 48-0 on Friday) will still be contenders.
But the Eagles, who also defeated Corona Centennial, can certainly consider themselves contenders for the league crown — and perhaps even Division I glory. Santa Margarita plays St. John Bosco on Friday at Trabuco Hills.
“We can go forever,” Trent Mosley said. “The culture we have, the connections we have, I know what we’re capable of.”
