Centennial will host Santa Margarita in a rematch of the 2025 Southern Section Division 1 championship game. Team FB7 highlights some players to watch in the biggest game of the week in California.
Southern California football fans get a nice gift this week with one of the biggest matchups of the season coming so early in the season. Santa Margarita and Centennial play for the first time after Santa Margarita dominated the Huskies 42-7 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship last season.
The Eagles narrowly beat Centennial 33-27 in overtime in the regular season last year and the two teams split the two previous meetings prior to last season.
Both teams are much different than they were a year ago when they met at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Santa Margarita lost 9 crucial starters on defense as well as its best player, Trent Mosley, who will be suiting up for USC this weekend.
Centennial has a new high-level quarterback and the best receiver in the state.
Breaking Down some Players to Watch in the game between Santa Margarita and Centennial this Friday
Here are the players to keep an eye on in Corona on Friday.
Santa Margarita
Fletch Palmer, QB
Fletch Palmer is the son of head coach Carson Palmer and it was surprising to many to see him get the start over Vanderbilt commit Matt Smith. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 242 yards with 2 touchdowns against Jones of Florida in his first varsity start. Santa Margarita threw for 386 yards with 4 touchdowns in the championship game last season. A lot of that yardage was due to big plays by Mosley, but Palmer will need to play well for the Eagles to put up points against the Huskies.
Jaion Smith, RB
Jaion Smith ran for 132 yards in the two games against Centennial last season and he averaged 9 yards per carry against Jones last season. Centennial gave up some big rushing plays against Servite last week and Smith is capable of breaking off some big runs.
Grant Van Raaphorst, WR
The transfer from New Jersey had a 39-yard touchdown reception against Jones last week and may be the big play receiver for the Eagles this season. Santa Margarita torched Centennial on short passes and tunnel screens with Mosley in the championship game. Grant Van Raaphorst can make plays after the catch and may have a big game.
Adam Iloilo Jr., OL
Adam Iloilo Jr. opened up some nice running lanes as a pulling guard for Santa Margarita against Jones and was an All-Trinity League lineman as a freshman last season. He was the MVP at the Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase this January and maintains excellent pad level while pulling and drives his feet through contact.
Ca’ron Williams, DB
Ca’ron Williams had a pick-six against Centennial in the regular season last year and had an interception against Jones last week. I would not be surprised to see Williams matched up against USC commit receiver Quentin Hale in man coverage at times on Friday which is a must-see matchup.
Aydan Steen, LB
Aydan Steen led Santa Margarita in tackles with 10 last week and had 3 sacks in his first high school football game. Centennial can run the ball with running back Malaki Davis and Steen may have opportunities for big plays in the run defense.
Centennial
Jaden Jefferson, QB
Jaden Jefferson completed 79 percent of his passes for 296 yards with 2 touchdowns and ran for 92 yards with 2 touchdowns against Servite in his debut for the Huskies last week. He adds a dual-threat element that Centennial didn’t have last season and doesn’t make mistakes with the football.
Quentin Hale, WR
Hale caught eight passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns in his first game for Centennial and made a highlight reel catch that landed him on SportsCenter. He is the best receiver Centennial has had in a very long time and the connection between Hale and Jefferson is something Santa Margarita did not have to deal with last season.
Xavier Baca, OL
Xavier Baca is a a starting guard for Centennial and does a great job getting vertical in the run game and bouncing to the second level. He and senior Saik Fiataugalula lead a very good Centennial offensive line that will need to protect Jefferson.
Dean Gibson, DB
Dean Gibson led Centennial with 14 tackles against Servite last week and had 11 tackles against Santa Margarita in the regular season matchup in 2025. He is a safety that can fly up into the box to stop the run and can play in zone coverage.
Kye Duval, LB
Kye Duval is a transfer from Mater Dei who was a good a stand up edge rusher for the Huskies against Servite last week. Centennial will need to put pressure on Palmer to force some mistakes and Duval can get into the backfield with his speed off the edge.
