Santa Margarita football fends off Mater Dei with late interception

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Read more OCVarsity’s football wrap-up: Stories, scores, photos from Friday’s games

MISSION VIEJO — Santa Margarita football coach Carson Palmer described to his players in the offseason how the Eagles’ profile had shifted following their CIF-SS and CIF State championships in 2025.

“We’re no longer the underdog,” the Heisman Trophy winner explained. “We got a target on our back.”

Santa Margarita remained unblemished Friday by recording seven sacks and a late interception in a 14-7 victory against Mater Dei in the teams’ Trinity League opener at Saddleback College.

Freshman safety Jayden Jack intercepted in the Eagles’ end zone with 12 seconds left to seal Santa Margarita’s section-leading 12 consecutive victory.

The Eagles (6-0, 1-0) defeated Mater Dei (4-2, 0-1) for the second consecutive year under Palmer. The last time the Eagles beat the Monarchs two straight was 2001-02.

“We’re very blessed and fortunate to have the coaching staff that we have and God has blessed us with this amazing opportunity,” said Santa Margarita defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade, who had two sacks.

“(But) we ain’t achieved nothing yet,” the USC committed senior added. “We have a high standard at Santa Margarita. We’re coming for it all this year again.”

Santa Margarita, ranked No. 1 in Orange County and No. 4 in the nation by MaxPreps, took a 14-7 lead in the middle of the third quarter. Palmer’s son Fletch tossed a 4-yard touchdown to wide receiver Grant Van Raaphorst.

Santa Margarita 14-7 pic.twitter.com/c8kScHcQiQ

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 3, 2026

Van Raaphorst set up his score with 20-yard run on a reverse to the Mater Dei 8.

Mater Dei, ranked No. 2 in Orange County and No. 18 in the nation, tried to response but Santa Margarita’s defense closed the game with three consecutive stops.

After the Monarchs held the ball for the final 7:45 of the third quarter, Santa Margarita forced a missed 32-yard field goal early in the fourth.

The Eagles’ defense forced Mater Dei to turn the ball over on downs at the Santa Margarita 37 with 5:50 left in regulation.

Jack ended Mater Dei’s final drive with his team-leading third interception.

Freshman @Jaydenjack2733 Ballhawk 💯seals the win for @SMCHS_Football @SMCHSEagles pic.twitter.com/aCTJdr4Rf1

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 3, 2026

“Really proud of our guys,” Carson Palmer said of the Eagles, who didn’t commit a turnover. “That’s a great (Mater Dei) football team. Very well-coached, great program obviously. And what a fun game. Just a physical, violent game. Went down to the very end. I’m just proud of our defense the way they stepped up.”

“Just a big win for us,” the coach added. “The target is on our back and we just continue to fight.”

Santa Margarita’s defense also received two sacks from lineman Kingston Jimmerson and blitzing cornerback Ca’ron Williams.

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Freshman defensive lineman Kaleb Herndon and freshman linebacker Aydan Steen also played well for the Eagles’ defense.

Santa Margarita has allowed 34 points on the season or 5.7 per game.

Mater Dei had its scoring chances.

With about a minute left, freshman QB Paytyn Guess scrambled and completed a 39-yard pass to Gavin Honore at the Santa Margarita 15.

“For whatever reason, we can’t get the ball in the end zone,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said. “I might be doing something wrong but I got to figure that out.”

Guess completed 16 of 21 passes 165 yards. Palmer went 13 of 20 for 155 yards.

Mater Dei’s defense recorded two sacks, including one by DJ Clanton.

Last season, Santa Margarita beat Mater Dei for the first time since 2013 by collecting a 7-6 triumph in the Trinity League.

The Eagles went on to claim CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State Open Division titles in their first season under Palmer.

The teams tied 7-7 at intermission courtesy of Jake Martin.

The Santa Margarita junior safety blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left in the second quarter.

Earlier in the season, Martin blocked a late extra-point that helped Santa Margarita edge Centennial 21-20.

Martin’s latest blocked wiped out a promising drive sparked by the running of Guess.

Mater Dei surpassed its point total against Santa Margarita in ’25 by scoring on its first possession.

Asir Nembhard scored on a 5-yard run to cap a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Jerry Shifman kicked the extra-point to make it 7-0.

Santa Margarita knotted the score 7-7 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Adrian Petero with 3:38 left in the first half.

Fletch Palmer highlighted the 58-yard scoring drive with a 34-yard completion to Van Raaphorst, who made a leaping grab at the Mater Dei 11.

Santa Margarita wide receiver Grant Mosley had three catches for 38 yards in his season debut. The Eagles played without tight end Luke Gazzaniga (pneumonia), Carson Palmer said.

Next week on Friday, Oct. 9, Santa Margarita plays host to Servite (3-2) at Saddleback College. Mater Dei play at JSerra (4-1) on the same day.

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