3 Takeaways: Santa Margarita Stuns Centennial in Overtime, Marks First Win for Carson Palmer

Santa Margarita’s 33–27 OT win under Carson Palmer showcased clutch defense and a short-yardage finishing run by Adrian Petero; bettors might favor the Eagles in tight spreads and target player-prop bets for QB Trace Johnson and RB Petero, while expecting lower game totals due to strong defensive play.

Game Recap: Santa Margarita Edges Centennial 33–27 in Overtime

Santa Margarita opened the season with a dramatic 33–27 overtime victory over Centennial, giving new head coach Carson Palmer a memorable first win. The Eagles rallied through timely defense, efficient passing, and a bruising overtime push by freshman Adrian Petero to seal the result.

Clutch Plays Define a Tense Opener

Trace Johnson finished 17-of-25 for 209 yards and two touchdown passes, plus a 15-yard rushing score that helped keep drives alive. Jaion “Deuce” Smith chipped in 78 yards on 22 carries, while Ryan Clark (7 catches, 78 yards) and Luke Gazzaniga (6 catches, 83 yards) provided consistent targets. Grant Mosley delivered a 39-yard touchdown catch that swung momentum late.

Adrian Petero’s Overtime Power Run

Freshman Adrian Petero, the smallest player on the field, carried 12 times for 67 yards and punctuated the game with a physical two-yard touchdown in overtime. The drive showcased Santa Margarita’s willingness to run the ball in short-yardage and high-pressure situations.

Defense and Turnovers Tilt the Field

Sophomore Prime Williams was the defensive game-changer with two interceptions on back-to-back drives, returning them for a combined 77 yards and erasing critical Centennial scoring opportunities. Jayden Crowder added an interception, a pass breakup and a blocked extra point — a special-teams play that proved pivotal. Simote Katoanga recorded two sacks and Ivrick Carrigan added pressure with another sack.

Centennial’s Late Push and Missed Chances

Centennial stormed back in the fourth quarter with two touchdown connections from Dominick Catalano to Ty Plinski, forcing overtime. However, a blocked extra point and untimely turnovers limited Centennial’s ability to close out the comeback despite the late momentum.

Special Teams and Momentum Swings

Special teams played a decisive role: the blocked extra point and a late half-ending interception prevented Centennial from taking larger leads and created swing moments that favored Santa Margarita. Those plays underlined how special-teams execution can determine close games.

What This Means for the Season and Betting Angles

The win sends a message that Santa Margarita can win tight, physical contests behind opportunistic defense and short-yardage toughness. For bettors, the box score suggests leaning toward the Eagles in close spreads, favoring lower game totals in matchups where their defense is on display, and watching player-prop markets for Trace Johnson passing lines and Adrian Petero rushing attempts and short-yardage TDs.

See what stood out the most to us from No. 16 Santa Margarita's upset win over No. 8 Corona Centennial

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