Santa Margarita High School extended its winning streak to 15 games with a 21-7 victory over St. John Bosco in a highly anticipated Trinity League matchup on Friday night. The win positioned the Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the league, firmly in control of the league title race after defeating the No. 2 Braves.
A significant storyline of the game was the return of Grant Mosley, who caught a 49-yard touchdown pass during a trick play, marking his first season back after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two years. Grant’s touchdown reception came from quarterback Fletch Palmer, who executed a lateral handoff to running back Adrian Petero before launching a precise pass deep downfield to Mosley. The play showcased the teamwork between prominent local football families, as Palmer is the son of Santa Margarita head coach Carson Palmer, and Mosley is the younger brother of USC star freshman receiver Trent Mosley.
“Grant looked great,” Carson Palmer said following the game. “We knew as he got healthier, he was going to be a threat.” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro echoed the praise, describing Mosley as a “dynamic player like his brother.”
Santa Margarita jumped to an early lead through a combination of opportunistic defense and well-executed offensive plays. After St. John Bosco opened the scoring on a 28-yard touchdown catch by Kuika Moaalii, Santa Margarita responded quickly. Defensive back Rayshawn Brandon intercepted a pass from St. John Bosco quarterback Koa Malau’ulu and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown. Later, Ca’ron Williams secured another interception deep in opponent territory, which set up a one-yard touchdown run by Petero.
The Eagles maintained their momentum with critical defensive plays late in the first half, including a deflection of a potential touchdown pass by Jaion Smith and a blocked field goal attempt by Jake Martin, leading to a 14-7 halftime advantage.
Santa Margarita’s strong start under Carson Palmer, now in his second year as head coach, aligns with the team’s continued improvement. After finishing the 2025 season with a dominant margin over league opponents, the Eagles look poised to maintain their competitive edge this year. “I just feel we have the best staff in the nation,” Grant Mosley said. “Every week, we’re just developing. And we’re still not at our highest state. Once we get to the playoffs, that’s when we’ll be at our best.”
With key victories over traditional league powerhouses St. John Bosco and Mater Dei, Santa Margarita is in position to clinch the Trinity League title. Carson Palmer expressed confidence heading into the season’s final stretch. “We’re ready,” he said.
Despite some confusion from the public address announcer initially crediting his brother Trent for the touchdown, Grant Mosley remained focused on his own performance and future potential. “I’m still not even at my full state yet,” he remarked, underscoring the depth of talent within the Mosley family and the Eagles’ rising prospects.