RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – Playing under the Friday night lights at Tesoro High School, Bishop Gorman’s defense delivered a dominant performance, shutting out Santa Margarita 14-0. The Gaels (5-1) made their mark early and never let the Eagles (3-3) find their rhythm in a game defined by hard-hitting defense.
The opening score came less than five minutes into the contest when defensive back Kamil Loud jumped a pass in the flat and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, giving Bishop Gorman a quick 7-0 lead. That early momentum carried through the first half, as the Gaels’ defensive front swarmed the pocket and their secondary forced multiple turnovers.
Santa Margarita nearly answered in the second quarter behind quarterback Trace Johnson, who connected on a deep ball to Griffin Brahm to set up a red-zone opportunity. But the Eagles’ drive ended in disappointment with a missed field goal, keeping them scoreless.
Bishop Gorman responded before the half, marching inside the five-yard line and capping the drive with a short rushing touchdown to make it 14-0 at the break. From there, the Gaels relied on suffocating defense, piling up sacks and interceptions while keeping Santa Margarita pinned deep in its own territory for much of the second half.
Despite a few late possessions near midfield, the Eagles never broke through, as Gorman closed out the win with a shutout intact in front of a lively Southern California crowd.
With the victory, Bishop Gorman moves to 5-1 on the season, further solidifying its standing among the nation’s elite. Santa Margarita falls to 3-3 and will look to regroup as Trinity League play intensifies.
Final Score: Bishop Gorman 14, Santa Margarita 0
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