Santa Margarita shuts out Mater Dei for low-scoring win

Trent Mosley had an itch and discomfort from standing on the sideline — not the foot injury that has sidelined him since Aug. 22 — weighing on the big receiver.

The USC commit chose an exceptional time to return. Trailing by six, with 5:06 left in the game, Mosley took the snap in the Wildcat formation and deflected his way into the end zone for a touchdown.

“It was upsetting knowing I couldn’t go out there and help my teammates,” Mosley said. “I’m back now and we’re getting better.”

The score and the silence of the raucous crowd at Santa Ana Stadium told the story: For the first time in a long time, the Trinity League was up for grabs. Santa Margarita (5-2, 2-0) played a great South Division game Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium, upsetting Mater Dei 7-6 to set the stage for a thrilling Trinity League final after the Eagles knocked off the Kings (4-2, 1-1) for the first time since 2013.

“It’s 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 coach last season and decided to remain on the Eagles’ staff, as a catalyst for Santa Margarita’s success. Mater Dei had just 175 yards on offense Friday.

“They are [Fifita’s] “The heartbeat is on defense,” Palmer said of the group, which includes Fifita’s nephew Dash, a senior linebacker.

Pound for pound, the defensive lines of Santa Margherita and Mater Dei would not budge.

Eagles senior linebacker Faye Manutai would get a sack – while moments later Monarchs linebackers Montana Loilolo and Matamatagi Uiagalelei stormed in for sacks of their own. Monarchs linebacker Shaun Scott forced a fumble and had a 1 1/2 sack as the Eagles couldn’t break 25 yards.

Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins never felt comfortable — outside of a 10-yard touchdown strike to Kayden Dixon White in the first quarter — and eventually intercepted Eagles defensive back David Morales as the third quarter came to a close.

“We’re there, but we’re not quite there,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said, referring to plays like Hopkins taking down wide receiver Gavin Honoré for a potential game-winning touchdown, which instead became a turnover on downs with 2:06 remaining.

Lara continued: “This game of football is a great tool to teach young people life skills. Not everything in life will be perfect.”

Santa Margarita’s Trace Johnson couldn’t get comfortable, throwing two interceptions into the hands of Mater Dei defensive back CJ Lavender Jr.

When Johnson found open space, it was thanks to Mosley.

For a team-high six catches for 51 yards, Mosley — who often lines up next to his brother Grant in the slot — helped set up the game-winning drive after freshman running back Adrian Petro hauled in a 59-yarder to bring the Eagles into Monarchs territory.

Trent Mosley’s punch and the point that followed – which was enough to win after a failed two-point conversion following Dixon White’s score – now constitute territory unseen in recent Trinity League seasons.

Yes, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco (which defeated Orange Lutheran 48-0 on Friday) will still be rivals.

But the Eagles, who also have a win over Corona Centennial, can certainly consider themselves contenders for the league title — and perhaps even Division I glory. Santa Margarita plays St. John Bosco on Friday at Trabuco Hills.

“We could go forever,” Trent Mosley said. “The culture that we have, the bond that we have — I know what we are capable of.”