Santa Margarita football beats Centennial for fourth consecutive time

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CORONA — Santa Margarita’s rebuilt defense and new-look offense clashed with a familiar yet challenging opponent known for exploiting weaknesses and pushing the tempo.

The Eagles showed they’re still the team to beat in Southern California football.

Ca’ron Williams returned an interception 30 yards for a go-ahead touchdown on the final play of the third quarter and Santa Margarita forced a missed extra-point attempt in the middle of the fourth to collect a 21-20 victory against Centennial at Centennial High on Friday.

Santa Margarita (2-0), the reigning CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State Open champion, beat the Huskies (1-1) for the fourth consecutive time.

“We’re a tough, gritty football team,” Eagles coach Carson Palmer said. “We’ve played in big games. This is a phenomenal environment. This community gets behind this program tremendously. It’s packed. … Just proud that we didn’t flinch.”

“We played hard right to the very end,” the second-year coach added. “That’s a very good football team.”

Williams snapped a 14-14 deadlock with his fifth interception against Centennial in four career games. The junior cornerback believed the Huskies miscommunicated on the first-down play. Williams, however, was ready.

“Film room,” he said. “(I’m) always looking at what the QB is looking at (in film study).”

“I feel like we can be back-to-back state champions,” Williams added. “No team can mess with us right now.”

Postgame w/ @SMCHS_Football @SMCHSEagles CB @Caron21Williams who returned an INT 30 yds for the go-ahead TD in a big win at Centennial! Junior has a remarkable 5️⃣ INTs in four career games v Huskies! pic.twitter.com/xATkPuDQrm

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) August 29, 2026

Santa Margarita’s Kai Koga added the all-important extra-point as Santa Margarita took a 21-14 lead into the fourth.

Centennial answered with an 11-yad touchdown run by Braylin Drake with 7:33 left in regulation but a deflection by the Eagles on the extra-point sent the ball bouncing off the upright.

Santa Margarita’s defense forced the Huskies to the turn the ball over on downs at the Eagles 45 with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter. Santa Margarita then turned to running back Adrian Petero to run out the clock. The 5-foot-5, 185-pound sophomore finished with 110 yards on 23 carries.

“A-Train was phenomenal,” Carson Palmer said. “He’s as tough as they come. Incredible balance at the point of contact. Super shifty. Powerful.”

“We came in with a mindset that we were going to run the football, and we were able to do that,” the coach added. “Really proud of our guys up front.”

The offensive featured Raymond Jacobs, Elyjah Aiava, Aaron Klatt, Adam Iloilo and Kairin Brunt.

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Santa Margarita entered the nonleague game ranked No. 1 in Orange County and sixth in the nation by MaxPreps. Centennial is eighth in the nation.

The Eagles faced Centennial for the first time since they raced past the Huskies 42-7 in the Division 1 final last season at the Rose Bowl.

Santa Margarita also won the teams’ nonleague game last fall 33-27 in overtime .

A lot has changed with the Eagles since last season.

Fletch Palmer, the son of the coach and Heisman Trophy winner, earned the starting quarterback position. Fletch wears jersey No. 3, the same number his father donned at USC and with two NFL teams. One of his top targets is freshman wide out Kiyan Callis.

The defense features nine new starters with only USC committed lineman Isaia Vandermade and Williams back.

Vandermade teamed with Kingston Jimmerson to cause plenty of trouble for the Centennial offensive line, which was missing a few starters.

👀 Tonight was coming out party for #99 @KingJimmerson, Santa Margarita super-soph DL was dominant v Centennial w/ 3 TFL @SMCHS_Football @SMCHSEagles pic.twitter.com/E0Uaa9EGt3

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) August 29, 2026

Freshman linebacker Aydan Steen added a late sack to give him four in two games.

Santa Margarita led 14-7 at halftime but Centennial tied the score early in the third quarter. Former Mater Dei running back Kennie Leggett made a leaping 24-yard reception from Jaden Jefferson.

Santa Margarita’s defense asserted itself on the opening possession of the first quarter. The Eagles recovered a fumble at the Centennial 32 on the fourth play from scrimmage.

Eight plays later, Petero scored on a 1-yard run to cap a drive that grinded up 5:31.

Santa Margarita’s defense also set up another score in the second quarter. Jimmerson and linebacker Cruz Nuñez combined to sack Jefferson on a fourth-and-short from near mid-field.

The Eagles drove for a 5-yard touchdown run by Jaion Smith to open a 14-0 lead in the middle of the second period.

Fletch Palmer helped set the score with 15-yard scramble to the 5. The junior finished 6 of 13 passing for 51 yards.

Santa Margarita almost forced another fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Sophomore Daxton Karney nearly forced a fumble on USC commit Quentin Hale. The Huskies maintained possession and drove for a 7-yard touchdown catch by Hale with 1:29 left in half.

The strike capped a 12-play, 75-yard possession as the Huskies trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 14-7.

Santa Margarita’s defense held the Huskies to 34 yards rushing in the first half and 78 for the game.

“Our defense was suffocating tonight,” Carson Palmer said.

Next week, Santa Margarita plays host to Highland (0-2) at Saddleback College on Sept. 4. The Eagles beat Highland 45-13 last season.

Read more Dan Albano’s under-the radar storylines for Friday’s football games