High School Football: Santa Margarita upsets No. 10 Centennial (Calif.)

Usually high school football is reserved for Friday nights, but on Thursday, there was plenty of great games that went on all throughout the country.

One that specifically caught our eye was from the seemingly like a full slate of high school football was Santa Margarita Catholic‘s 33-27 upset in overtime over No. 10 nationally ranked Corona Centennial. We give you a recap of the Eagles’ thrilling win over the Huskies, which landed former NFL quarterback Carson Palmer his first victory as a high school football coach.

Santa Margarita 33, No. 10 Corona Centennial 27, OT

Last week’s performance in the head coaching debut for former NFL signal caller Carson Palmer could’ve been deemed as a little disappointing. Three points was all the Eagles could muster in a 7-3 loss to Mission Viejo last week.

Palmer had accounted for 294 touchdowns in his NFL career, equaling 1,764 points scored, so keeping the former Pro Bowl quarterback’s team down from scoring points in high school football wasn’t going to last too long. The Eagles nearly blew a 13-point halftime lead, but were able to pull off the thrilling win in overtime behind a balanced offensive effort, led by senior three-star quarterback Trace Johnson (Tulane commit).

Johnson finished the game completing 17 of 25 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, to pace the Eagles’ attack on offense. Palmer leaned on a couple underclassmen to carry the rock en route to the win in sophomore Jaion Smith (21 carries, 82 yards) and freshman Adrian Petero (13 carries, 74 yards, two touchdowns).

It would be Petero that carried the team to win in the overtime period, as the freshman tailback broke multiple tackles, plunging into the endzone.

The Huskies (1-1) mounted a late comeback, tying the game in the final minute of regulation when senior quarterback Dominick Catalano connected with Ty Plinski for a touchdown that knotted everything up at 27-all with 49 seconds remaining.

It’s the second year in a row that Santa Margarita has upset Corona Centennial as they defeated the Huskies last year, 31-15, at home.

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the country.