No. 1 Santa Margarita vs. No. 2 St. John Bosco Headlines a Big Weekend of High School Football

High school football fans in Southern California have a huge weekend ahead of them. Week 8 is packed with big games between top-ranked teams. The best matchup of all is No. 1 Santa Margarita (7-0) traveling to face No. 2 St. John Bosco (6-1) in a Trinity League showdown. The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network so fans can watch from home.

Santa Margarita has been on a roll lately. The Eagles have won 13 games in a row since losing to St. John Bosco last October. They also won the state Open Division championship last season. That makes this rematch one of the most exciting games of the year.

St. John Bosco has something to prove, too. Last week, the Braves beat Orange Lutheran 48-0 in a regular-season game to make up for a surprise playoff loss to that same team the year before. Now the Braves get a chance to show they can beat the state champions. Quarterback Koa Malau'ulu is a key weapon for Bosco, along with wide receivers DJ Tubbs and Kuika Moaalii.

Santa Margarita's offense is built on running the ball. Running back Adrian Petero stands just 5 feet 5 and weighs 175 pounds, but he is hard to bring down. He sets up big plays for quarterback Fletch Palmer, whose father, Carson Palmer, is the team's coach. Former Santa Margarita star Trent Mosley now plays at USC, but he may show up on the sideline to cheer on his brother Grant, who is a receiver for the Eagles.

Experts say this game could come down to the defenses. Defensive coordinators Steve Fifita of Santa Margarita and Chris King of St. John Bosco know each other well and have a lot of respect for one another. Turnovers, penalties, and special teams play could decide who wins. The predicted winner is St. John Bosco.

The second game to watch is Bishop Amat (6-1) taking on Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (7-0) at 7 p.m. This game will decide who finishes second in the Mission League. Notre Dame has been a surprise team this season, staying unbeaten thanks to quarterback Tahj Skinner and a roster full of fast players. Bishop Amat is expected to win because of their physical style of play.

In the Alpha League, Mission Viejo (6-1) visits unbeaten San Clemente (7-0) in a big rivalry game. Mission Viejo has one of the best offensive lines around, and receiver Jack Junker showed he can also play running back. San Clemente features a versatile star in Jaxson Rex, who plays both receiver and safety. The game may come down to which young quarterback — Mission Viejo's Brett Burnor or San Clemente's Preston Beck — makes fewer mistakes. San Clemente is picked to win.

In the Coliseum League, King/Drew (4-3) takes on Crenshaw (5-2). King/Drew quarterback Gerald Torres has had a strong season, throwing for 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns. Crenshaw has struggled against passing teams this year, so the game could be close. Crenshaw has added balance to their offense with quarterback Ethan Grant leading the way. Crenshaw is expected to come out on top.

Finally, Hamilton (3-4) faces Palisades (3-3) for the Western League title. Both teams love to throw the ball, and fans should expect a lot of passes in this game. Quarterbacks Robert Holohan III of Palisades and Thaddeus Breaux of Hamilton will both have busy nights. Hamilton is picked to win and take the league championship.