Live updates; 3rd Qtr — No. 17 Santa Margarita 7, No. 10/SN No. 11 Sierra Canyon 3 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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CHATSWORTH, California, Nov. 14 — Santa Margarita finds paydirt on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Clark gives Santa Margarita the lead with just 18 seconds before halftime. It’s 7-3, Eagles.
PREVIEW
It’s finally time for California’s CIF Southern Section playoffs, and the first round has several matchups of intrigue. But none of them are bigger than the No. 17 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles at the No. 10/SN No. 11 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers on Friday night.
The contest is The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week, and it promises to be a doozy with both teams still riding high in the national rankings as they begin their pursuit of a California Division 1 state championship. And while Santa Margarita’s three losses mean the Eagles won’t be in the running for a national title, undefeated Sierra Canyon remains very much alive in the championship race.
Santa Margarita has experienced some exhilarating highs in its first season under head coach Carson Palmer, an alum and former Heisman Trophy winner, who led the Eagles to their first win over Mater Dei since 2013. But along with those highs, which also include a 33-27 overtime win over Centennial, the Eagles have experienced growing pains, including losses to the Mission Viejo Diablos, Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels, and St. John Bosco Braves.
Sierra Canyon, on the other hand, has yet to even be challenged in 2025 with their closest game being a 30-0 shutout over the Serra [Gardena, CA] Cavaliers on October 3. Granted, they haven’t played the schedule that Santa Margarita has, but they’ve at least beaten those lesser opponents in the manner in which you would expect a great team to win. It’s the Trailblazers’ second 10-0 regular season in three years since emerging as a force in California’s Division 1 ranks, and a win here would at least allow them to match their 11-1 finish in 2023. To break through to the next level, however, they will have to figure out how to get past the Southern Section semifinals, and that’s easier said than done.
WATCH:No. 17 Santa Margarita at No. 10/SN No. 11 Sierra Canyon
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|| THIRD QUARTER ||
And the third quarter is under way.
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|| SECOND QUARTER ||
And that’s your first half.
HALFTIME — Santa Margarita 7, Sierra Canyon 3
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Johnson finds Clark on a 33-yard strike, and suddenly Santa Margarita is in the lead. This is their formula; play stingy defense and score just enough to win games.
2ND QTR — Santa Margarita 7, Sierra Canyon 3
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With 2:34 to play in the first half, Santa Margarita gets another stop, and Sierra Canyon misses a 42-yard field goal wide right. The Eagles’ offense has done nothing, but their defense is standing up as it always does.
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Santa Margarita intercepts the ball in the end zone! Sierra Canyon is leaving a lot of points on the field so far.
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We’ve finally got the game’s first point as Sierra Canyon knocks home a field goal after the earlier blocked attempt.
1ST QTR — Sierra Canyon 3, Santa Margarita 0
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First play of the second quarter, and Santa Margarita blocks a 38-yard field goal attempt by Sierra Canyon.
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|| FIRST QUARTER ||
And that’s your first quarter. They’re still scoreless in Chatsworth.
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Third and long, and Santa Margarita gets a sack! Both these teams specialize in plays behind the line. Timeout Sierra Canyon.
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Santa Margarita got a stop on fourth down, but got called for interference. Sierra Canyon with a first down on Santa Margarita’s 12.
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Sierra Canyon on the move inside Santa Margarita’s 30.
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They’re under way in Chatsworth!
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Coming soon!
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