Trent Mosley itched and itched, the discomfort of standing on the sideline — not his foot harm that held him out of motion since Aug. 22 — weighing on the senior receiver.
The USC commit picked an distinctive time to return. Trailing by six, with 5:06 remaining within the recreation, Mosley took the snap within the wildcat formation and swerved his method into the top zone for a landing.
“It sucked just knowing I couldn’t go out there and help my teammates,” Mosley mentioned. “Now I’m back and we’re getting better.”
The rating and the hush of the usually raucous Santa Ana Stadium crowd instructed the story: For the primary time in a protracted whereas, the Trinity League is up for grabs. Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-0) performed Southern Part stunner on Friday night time at Santa Ana Stadium, upsetting Mater Dei 7-6 to set the stage for an exhilarating Trinity League finale after the Eagles took down the Monarchs (4-2, 1-1) for the primary time since 2013.
“Incredible,” Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer mentioned. “They’ve been playing like the best defense in the country all year long, every week.”
Palmer pointed to defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, who served as interim head coach throughout final season and determined to remain on the Eagles’ employees because the catalyst for Santa Margarita’s success. Mater Dei had solely 175 yards on offense Friday.
Mater Dei Excessive’s CJ Lavender Jr. intercepts a go meant for Santa Margarita receiver Grant Mosley on Friday night time.
(Craig Weston)
“They’re [Fifita’s] heartbeat on defense,” Palmer mentioned of the group, which incorporates Fifita’s nephew Sprint, a senior linebacker.
Pound-for-pound, the defensive strains of Santa Margarita and Mater Dei wouldn’t budge.
Eagles senior linebacker Vai Manutai would safe a sack — whereas moments later Monarchs linemen Montana Loilolo and Matamatagi Uiagalelei stormed by means of for sacks of their very own. Monarchs linebacker Shaun Scott compelled a fumble and earned 1 1/2 sacks because the Eagles couldn’t break 25 dashing yards.
Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins by no means obtained comfy — outdoors of a 10-yard landing strike to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt within the first quarter — ultimately throwing an interception to Eagles defensive again Davide Morales because the third quarter got here to an in depth.
“We’re right there, but we’re not quite there,” mentioned Mater Dei coach Raul Lara, referring to performs comparable to Hopkins overthrowing broad receiver Gavin Honore for a possible game-winning landing, which as a substitute turned a turnover on downs with 2:06 remaining.
Lara continued: “This game of football is a great tool to teach young men life skills. Not everything in life is going to be perfect.”
Quarterback Hint Johnson of Santa Margarita couldn’t get comfy , tossing two interceptions into the arms of Mater Dei defensive again CJ Lavender Jr.
When Johnson discovered open house, it was due to Mosley.
For a team-high six catches for 51 yards, Mosley — who usually lined up subsequent to his brother Grant within the slot — helped arrange the game-winning drive after freshman operating again Adrian Petero hauled in a 59-yard catch to deliver the Eagles into Monarchs’ territory.
Trent Mosley’s punch in and the purpose after — which was sufficient to win after a failed two-point conversion after Dixon-Wyatt’s rating — now units up unprecedented territory in latest Trinity League seasons.
Sure, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco (which defeated Orange Lutheran 48-0 Friday) will nonetheless be contenders.
However the Eagles, who additionally maintain a win over Corona Centennial, can definitely take into account themselves as contenders for the league’s crown — and perhaps even Division 1 glory. Santa Margarita performs St. John Bosco on Friday at Trabuco Hills.
“We can go forever,” Trent Mosley mentioned. “The culture we have, the bond we have — I know what we’re capable of.”
