A uncommon November storm dumped steady gallons of rain on gamers and followers Friday night time throughout Southern California, creating alternatives for underdogs within the quarterfinals of the highschool soccer playoffs.
Nobody was higher ready for rain than Santa Margarita quarterback Hint Johnson, who performed final season in Florida. “Every other game was rain,” he stated.
Johnson fired landing passes of 33 and 34 yards to sophomore Ryan Clark to assist No. 5-seeded Santa Margarita (8-3) hand No. 4-seeded Sierra Canyon (10-1) its first defeat, 21-9, to advance to the Southern Part Division 1 semifinals.
The massive stunner of the night time was No. 8-seeded Orange Lutheran eliminating No. 1-seeded St. John Bosco 20-19 when the Braves missed an additional level within the ultimate two minutes. Orange Lutheran (3-8) misplaced to St. John Bosco 48-0 within the common season. The massive play was sophomore King Wealthy Johnson returning an interception for a landing and a 20-13 lead. The Lancers will host Santa Margarita subsequent week at Orange Coast School.
“To go from losing 48-0 to beating a team in the playoffs speaks to their character and continued growth,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman stated. “Our goal is to play our best football at the end of the year. We don’t make excuses with our young team. We played our best football game of the year. I’m super proud of our guys. They got over the mental block that they can play with anyone in the country.”
The opposite semifinal can have Mater Dei at Corona Centennial. Centennial defeated Servite 41-6. Mater Dei defeated Mission Viejo 20-0.
Sierra Canyon had by no means trailed this season, led by a protection thought-about the very best within the area. However Johnson shocked the Trailblazers along with his landing cross to Clark on the finish of the primary half for a 7-3 halftime lead. Sierra Canyon scored on its opening possession of the second half to go on high 9-7, however after that, it was Santa Margarita’s protection displaying its dominating kind.
Isaia Vandermade sacked Sierra Canyon quarterback Laird Fink twice within the second half. He additionally batted down a cross try. Fink was restricted to 92 yards passing. The Eagles had three second-half sacks, with main tackler Leki Holani making deal with after deal with.
Santa Margarita entered the Division 1 playoffs beneath first-year coach Carson Palmer having performed six of the seven groups in one of many hardest regular-season schedules. Palmer singled out Clark, who’s additionally the Eagles’ punter.
Santa Margarita had carried out nothing on offense. Then Hint Johnson will get time and connects with Ryan Clark for a 33-yard TD with 18 seconds left in second quarter. Santa Margarita 7, Sierra Canyon 3. Halftime. pic.twitter.com/2yUnn5ZI4b
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 15, 2025
“He was unbelievable,” Palmer stated. “He made plays all night.”
Stated Clark: “They were great throws. We practiced good all week.”
Sierra Canyon quarterback Laird Fink throws within the rain.
(Craig Weston)
Sierra Canyon’s Jaxsen Stokes rushed for 106 yards, however misplaced alternatives within the first half proved pricey. The Trailblazers tried three subject objectives. Carter Sobel made a 34-yard subject purpose, however he had one blocked and missed from 42 yards. Fink had a cross intercepted in the long run zone by Joshua Holani in one other big play for the Eagles.
With seven commits to USC taking part in on the drenched Sierra Canyon all-weather subject and USC Heisman Trophy winner Palmer teaching Santa Margarita, it will have been an ideal time to rent Traveler to take a gallop across the subject or borrow the Trojan band to play “Tusk.”
Palmer has definitely made an affect in his first s†int as a highschool coach.
“It’s been real fun and it’s still going,” he stated.
