Santa Margarita football shuts out Norco with ‘incredible’ defense

• September 19, 2026

MISSION VIEJO — Santa Margarita’s defense is relying on several new contributors after losing many of its starters from its CIF State Open Division championship team last season.

The inexperience on defense has not been an issue thus far and has instead been the strength of the team.

Santa Margarita got its second consecutive shutout and third of the season in a 28-0 win over Norco on Friday night at Saddleback College.

Norco (4-1) was undefeated entering Friday and had scored at least 49 points in each of its four games. The Cougars averaged 54 points per game and its closest margin of victory was a 30-point win over Etiwanda last week.

Santa Margarita (5-0) has allowed just seven points in its last three games and just 27 points total this season. Twenty of those points were by Centennial in a 21-20 win for the Eagles.

“It’s been incredible,” Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer said. “A lot of youth on that side of the ball. They have five games under their belt now and they are coached by the best defensive coach in football in (Steve) Fifita. They’ve really picked up where we left off last year.”

A pair of freshmen have been key additions to Santa Margarita’s defense. Linebacker Aydan Steen blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown and added a sack. Jayden Jack intercepted a pass and returned it to the 1-yard line which led to a touchdown on the ensuing play.

“They are playing well above their years,” Palmer said. “Really excited about that young group and the seniors they are following are great leaders in front of them. Shutouts are tough and three of them are amazing.”

Sophomore running back Adrian Petero had his second consecutive 100-plus yard rushing game with 141 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for four touchdowns last week in a win over Inderkum which was the most for a Santa Margarita player since 2011.

“I have to give thanks to my offensive line first,” Petero said. “They put their all into this game. We still got more work to do but I’m proud of these guys. We push each other to our limits.”

Fletch Palmer completed 10 of 16 passes for 134 yards with a touchdown. He had 102 passing yards in the first two drives of the game.

On its first offensive possession, Santa Margarita went on a 6-play, 61-yard touchdown drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Palmer to Luke Gazzaniga.

Early in the second quarter, Petero ran for a 9-yard touchdown to finish a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.

Steen blocked a Norco punt early in the third quarter and Jagger Apt returned it 10 yards for an Eagles touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter, Luca Amaya ran for a 5-yard touchdown to extend Santa Margarita’s lead to 28-0.

Norco was backed up to its own 1-yard line and Jack returned an interception 10 yards back to the line of scrimmage. Petero ran for his second touchdown on the next play to give the Eagles a 34-0 lead.

Julian Medina completed 30 of 41 passes with 178 yards for Norco. Tegan Ogas caught 10 passes for 62 yards and Henderson Carter V led Norco’s defense in tackles.

The Eagles held Norco to six yards rushing when including yardage lost on sacks. Steen, Cruz Nunez and Isaia Vandermade each had sacks for the Eagles. Kingston Jimmerson and Daxton Karney combined for a sack and Vandermade recovered a fumble.

Santa Margarita is 5-0 for the first time since 2012 and has won 11 consecutive games which is the most in the Southern Section. The Eagles have a bye next week before hosting Mater Dei in its Trinity League opener. Santa Margarita narrowly beat Mater Dei 7-6 last season.

“I can’t wait. It will be a really good test for us to start Trinity League,” Palmer said. “We’re banged up. Bye week is hitting us at a good time.”

“We’re doing good but there’s a lot of stuff we can work on so we are going to take this bye week seriously,” Vandermade said. “We haven’t won nothing yet. We really haven’t. We have a standard at SM that we haven’t reached yet so we’re going to keep striving for it everyday.”

​ Orange County Register 

JSerra QB Hayes Cloutier takes over in 2nd-half comeback to beat Bishop Amat

• September 19, 2026

LA PUENTE — JSerra quarterback Hayes Cloutier was a nightmare for Bishop Amat. The senior took over in the second half and zapped all the confidence the Lancers had built up in the first half to take a seven-point lead to the locker room.

Cloutier made several back-breaking plays on third and long, fourth and long, and he accounted for all of the Lions’ touchdowns in a come-from-behind 37-28 victory over Bishop Amat to hand the Lancers (4-1) their first loss.

Cloutier threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 135 yards and three scores as the Lions (4-1) overcame a 28-21 halftime deficit to pull out the win, shutting out the Lancers in the second half.

JSerra QB Hayes Cloutier talks after an amazing night. He passed for 182 yards and two TDs and ran for 135 yards and three TDs in their 37-28 victory over Bishop Amat. pic.twitter.com/ytaiY4Ut43

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

The play of the game also came from Coutier. Trailing 28-21 on fourth and 3, he scrambled from sideline to sideline for a 27-yard touchdown run to tie the score.

After an JSerra interception, Coutier made Amat pay on another clutch play. On fourth and 5, he ran 11 yards for a touchdown and a 34-28 lead with 3:11 to go in the third quarter.

It was an amazing performance from the lefty.

“We came into half down, and I just continued to see holes and make plays,” Coutier said. “We got punched in the mouth a few times but we kept punching back. We punched them all night until that gritty fourth quarter drive that led to a late field goal.”

Bishop Amat coach Kory Minor tipped his hat to JSerra after an amazing game where the Lancers came up short, 37-28, and were shutout in the second half. pic.twitter.com/U5gpANkcZH

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

That’s how JSerra put it away. It started with the ball in the fourth quarter and used up nearly nine minutes before settling on Evan Leddy’s 39-yard field goal with 3:03 left to give them a nine-point lead, and that was enough.

For Bishop Amat, there was a lot to feel good about, especially in the first half when it scored on every possession.

Justin Clinton rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and got Amat going early with a 43-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.

Lancers quarterback Domenico Doran finished with 134 yards and two touchdowns, but he had two back-breaking interceptions that the Lions would capitalize on.

All in all, Amat showed it can hang with one of the best teams in Southern California. JSerra, from the Trinity League, is ranked No. 9 in the HS Ratings computer rakings for CIF Southern Section teams. Amat was No. 13.

For Amat coach Kory Minor, there were things he liked and disliked, but had to tip his hat to Cloutier.

“We fought, we battled, it was a heck of a game,” Minor said. “Their QB is pretty darn good. He made some amazing plays. I thought in the fourth quarter they made some plays we just couldn’t come back from.”

Amat’s defense had been the most impressive during its 4-0 start. But Minor was impressed by how their offense was able to move the ball against a very stout defensive team in JSerra.

“Offense is clicking, we just can’t turn the ball over and have success against a great team,” Minor said. “We’ll get better in that department. But that quarterback over their (Cloutier), he made some amazing plays with his legs, give him his credit.”

Bishop Amat RB Justin Clinton talked about the strides their offense made in a 37-28 loss to JSerra. Clinton finished with 151 yards and two TDS pic.twitter.com/9VUxWrCmGG

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) September 19, 2026

Clinton also thought Amat’s offense showed they have to be dealt with the rest of the way. They just didn’t have the ball much in the second half due to turnovers and the Lions’ long fourth-quarter drive.

“It just wasn’t in the cards for us,” Clinton said. “We came prepared, we were excited. We knew we could compete with this team. The ball just didn’t bounce our way.”

The first half was a fireworks show that ended with Bishop Amat going on a seven-play, 80-yard drive in the final minute of the half to take the lead after JSerra had just tied it up.

Doran threaded a 17-yard touchdown pass to Miguel Tellez with three seconds left to give the Lancers a 28-21 lead at the half.

That’s how the first half went, back and forth.

Amat came out challenging JSerra up front. After a couple runs for a first down, Clinton broke free up the middle for a 43-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.

The Lancers were looking to double their lead when JSerra’s Braylin Spencer picked off Doran and returned it 55 yards to the Lancers’ 25.

Three plays later, Cloutier found Sam Frederickson in the back of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the score.

Amat answered quickly.

Clinton found a hole and ran 67 yards to the Lions’ 13. A couple of plays later, Doran made up for his pick with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jaiden Comball to put Amat back in front 14-7.

JSerra grabbed the momentum back on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with Cloutier’s 8-yard touchdown run to tie the score, 14-14.

Amat kept pounding the ball.

Doran faked at handoff and went 30 yards deep into JSerra territory. The Lancers worked it near the end zone and finished with sophomore Jairus Suanis’ 4-yard touchdown to go up 21-14.

The Lions would tie the score again when Cloutier found tight end Grayson Matvay for a 6-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left, but Amat would answer before the half to take a seven-point lead to the break.

​ Orange County Register 

Photos: Top shots from Friday’s Week 4 high school football games

• September 19, 2026

It was another Friday night filled with exciting high school football action across the Southern California region.

Check out the Southern California News Group’s large collection of photos from Week 4’s biggest games on Friday, Sept. 18.

WEEK 3 PHOTOS

Photos: Top shots from Friday night’s high school football games

WEEK 2 PHOTOS

Photos: Under the bright lights at Friday night’s high school football games

WEEK 1

Photos: Friday’s Week 1 high school football games

WEEK 0

Photos: High school football returns under the lights on Friday night

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani making swing progress on IL

• September 19, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani casually strolled into the clubhouse on Friday, having received a positive report from his latest batting practice session that has progressed to taking pitches off coaches.

“He’s in a good spot,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Friday’s opener against the San Francisco Giants. “He hit today and came out of it well. I’m just waiting to hear when he’s going to get on the field or take live BP or Trajekt.

“He’s not there yet, but from everything I’ve heard it’s been a really productive last three to four to five days.”

Ohtani reunited with the team after their seven-game trip culminated with the Dodgers clinching the NL West title for the 13th time in 14 years with a win in Cincinnati on Thursday.

Ohtani, who went on the 15-day injured list just before the trip with right biceps and left knee issues, remained in Los Angeles to receive treatment. The four-time league MVP had been taking swings off a tee for several days before Friday.

He is eligible for activation as soon as Wednesday during the team’s final home series against the San Diego Padres, but when he rejoins the lineup will depend on his progress. Roberts is counting on Ohtani getting a few regular-season games before the postseason begins.

Before that happens, Roberts said he would like to see Ohtani take somewhere between 10 and 12 at-bats before putting him in the lineup.

“I think no matter what I say, it really doesn’t matter in the sense of it’s what he feels good with, what gets him ready,” Roberts said. “So, I could say 10, but it could be 12. But I think for me, if I’m just kind of spit balling and I think that 10 to 12 would be great.”

DIAZ IS ACTIVATED

Relief pitcher Edwin Diaz returned to the bullpen for Friday’s series opener. Roberts has said the 32-year-old right-hander will be used in low-leverage situations after missing a month because of neck inflammation.

Diaz has struggled with injuries (elbow surgery) and underperformance in his first season with the team, going 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA in 16 games with 19 strikeouts and 10 walks over 13⅔ innings. He made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City during his second IL stint of the season, allowing six runs with four strikeouts in 4⅓ innings.

Roberts said he just wants to see Diaz have success on the mound during the nine remaining regular-season games.

“Just pitch,” Roberts said of his expectations for Diaz. “Regardless of the role, I think we just want to see him throw the baseball the way he’s capable of. And you’re talking about nine games, so you’re talking three or four outings to evaluate and that should be adequate.”

To create a roster spot for Diaz, right-hander Landon Knack was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, a day after throwing four scoreless innings in a victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

HELP ON THE HORIZON

Outfielder Andy Pages is set to return on Tuesday against the Padres after missing a month because of a hand fracture, but the news isn’t as hopeful for backup catcher Dalton Rushing.

Pages got hit by a pitch in a game last month against the Pittsburgh Pirates and subsequently had surgery to place a screw in his fifth metacarpal. He has been steadily increasing his baseball activity.

While Rushing is progressing from right elbow trouble, Roberts didn’t have a date for his return.

Rushing appeared in four games off the bench before going back on the 10-day injured list after missing significant time because of a slight tear in the UCL of his right elbow.

UP NEXT

Giants (TBA) at Dodgers (LHP Tarik Skubal, 10-7, 2.70 ERA), Saturday, 6:10 p.m., SNLA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Los Alamitos consensus picks for Saturday, September 19, 2026

• September 19, 2026

The consensus box of Los Alamitos horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

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​ Orange County Register 

Angels come up empty with bases loaded, falling to Twins

• September 19, 2026

ANAHEIM — In the eighth inning, the Angels had a chance to make up for what they hadn’t done over the first seven innings.

They failed.

After getting only four baserunners in the first seven innings, the Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth only to come up empty in what would become a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Once the Angels got past Twins left-hander Connor Prielipp, who stymied them for most of the night, they had a shot against right-hander Tommy Nance.

Christian Moore and Wade Meckler singled, and then Zach Neto drew a four-pitch walk, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate.

Mike Trout then struck out, the final two strikes coming on swings at pitches out of the zone. Pinch-hitter Josh Lowe also struck out, then Vaughn Grissom hit a line drive to left field.

“Chase out of the zone and that got us,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I think loading the bases, putting us in a position to do some stuff over there, to do some damage, was definitely a good thing. Obviously we would have liked to be successful, but that’s sometimes baseball. Obviously execution and that big hit that we’ve talked about the last couple weeks that eluded us, eluded us tonight.”

Prior to that, the Angels (59-95) had managed just two hits and two walks in an anemic performance against Prielipp, who brought a 5.24 ERA to the mound. Neto hit a ball that left fielder Emmanuel Rodriguez caught with a leap at the fence. Denzer Guzman also hit a fly ball to the warning track.

“I felt like when we did hit it, we’ve hit it pretty decently,” Suzuki said. “We hit some balls to the track or pretty good balls. It looked like he had a good curveball, slider thing that he was throwing that was missing bats. He was good. He mixed it up. He was pretty tough.”

The Angels have struggled to hit for most of the second half of the season, although they’ve shown more signs of life over the past week.

The most positive development of the night was starter Grayson Rodriguez having his first quality start since Aug. 20. Rodriguez gave up three runs in 6⅔ innings. It was also his first start of the season without a walk.

Rodriguez bounced back nicely from a rough first inning to have a solid start.

Rodriguez hit the first batter of the game with a pitch, and then he gave up a single, putting runners at the corners. The Angels got an out at the plate on a groundout. A sacrifice fly drove in a run.

Rodriguez then appeared to be out of the inning without further damage, when Trout, the center fielder, got his glove on a line drive as he lunged for it. The ball dropped, though, as a run scored. It was ruled a hit.

After that, Rodriguez tacked on five scoreless innings, before allowing a solo homer to Walker Jenkins in the seventh.

“I thought Grayson pitched well,” Suzuki said. “After the first inning he settled in. Gave up a home run obviously late to Jenkins off the pole. But other than that, I thought he was in control the whole time and attacking the strike zone. Everything was looking good.”

Rodriguez likely has one more start left in his comeback season. So far, he has a 5.96 ERA in 19 starts, with 83 strikeouts in 93⅔ innings.

His raw stuff has suggested hints that he could become closer to the pitcher he was before he missed a season and a half because of injuries. His fastball has averaged 96 mph, and he’s gotten whiffs on 34% of his changeups. Both numbers are nearly identical to what he did it in 2024.

The Angels have control over Rodriguez, 26, for three more seasons.

He’s been encouraged by his progress so far.

“I feel like I’ve come a long way since the start,” Rodriguez said. “Lately, I feel like it’s been getting a lot better for me, in terms of just being able to throw strikes, not just with one or two pitches, but all pitches. I think for me, that’s important. Obviously, throwing four pitches and being able to get in the zone with all four is big. That’s a key to success for me. I feel like I’ve started to do that a little bit better here lately.”

​ Orange County Register 

Brazilian Pupo edges out HB’s Igarashi in Trestles Pro final, Brooks goes third win in a row

• September 19, 2026

The first time Brazilian Miguel Pupo won a big surf contest at Lower Trestles,in 2011, he was an up-and-coming 18-year-old just starting his pro career.

Now, 15 years later and still competing at the highest level, Pupo earned a big win at the iconic surf break on Friday, Sept. 18, this time beating Huntington Beach surfer Kanoa Igarashi.

It was the second year in a row the local surfer has been bested by a Brazilian competitor in the final matchup of the World Surf League event.

The Lexus Trestles Pro wrapped up on Friday, Sept. 18. For Canadian surfer and women’s winner Erin Brooks, it was her third consecutive win on the World Tour, after a lackluster start of the year.

“The first part of the year was such a bummer, this was worth it,” she said after being greeted by fans at the shore following her win. “So many hard heats made me just want to win it.”

While waves dropped in size slightly for finals day, conditions were glassy and clean, unlike the whipping winds that had plagued the event’s earlier days.

The local surf community had plenty to cheer for, as four local San Clemente surfers made it to the final day, along with Igarashi and Encinitas surfer Jake Marshall.

The women were up first in the 35-minute heats, with three San Clemente surfers, Sawyer Lindblad, Eden Walla and Bella Kenworthy, among the locals left in the hunt.

Lindblad went up against Walla, a young wildcard entry who showed she could battle against the world’s best. But at the end of the heat, it was the more experienced Lindblad who would move on.

One of the most anticipated heats in the morning came when Brooks matched up against five-time world champion Carissa Moore, who returned to competition after having a baby last year.

Brooks, who has yet to clinch a world title, put up huge scores just minutes into the heat, with a 8.0 and 7.33.

Moore got to work with a right-hander that earned her a 6.33. She kept busy as the clock ticked down, but she was in need of a big 8.56 score. With seconds left, a few small bumps showed up on the horizon, but none that had the potential before the buzzer sounded.

Brooks said it was stressful waiting 20 minutes for waves, after earning her first two scores. But she was glad the sets didn’t show up, allowing her to move on, knowing if given the chance Moore would be capable of earning the score she needed.

Next up in the quarterfinal matchup was Australia’s Molly Picklum going up against local surfer Kenworthy, who has struggled this year and is in need of big points to continue on the elite World Tour.

The ocean slowed down with a lull between sets, with no waves caught in the first 15 minutes, prompting a restart.

When the waves finally showed, Kenworthy earned a few solid scores, but Picklum landed a higher score, a 7.83, on her first wave, and a backup 7.50.

With seven sections left, Kenworthy gave a last-ditch effort, going to the air at the end of the wave, but falling in the end section.

When the men’s action got underway, Australia’s Callum Robson matched up against current world champion Yago Dora, who won the heat to earn a spot in the semifinals; Igarashi won against French surfer Marco Mignot.

Igarashi talked about his nervousness going into the semifinal against Dora, who had won in the finals last year against the local surfer.

“It’s super intimidating, for sure; those are the moments you have to step up,” Igarashi said. “I feel like I’m surfing pretty good.”

Igarashi ended up getting his revenge in the semifinals.

“I feel like I’ve been doing some good surfing and I feel like that’s all I’m worried about,” Igarashi said. “At the end of the day, you just want to surf good — whether for a jersey, world title, Olympic medal or in front of your friends, it brings me a lot of joy that I’m surfing good.”

One of the more exciting heats of the day happened when Cole Houshmand, sporting an eccentric hairdo in the pattern of a spiderweb, posted a big 9, drawing a roar from the support crowd on the sand.

Then, Houshmand went huge for a 9.50, a near-perfect score, to land the best combined total of the entire contest.

“I’m just super stoked and now I’m just trying to get back in the zone and calm myself down,” he said after the heat.

The crowd of supporters was helping to fire him up, he said.

“For me, it’s what it’s all about, to see how stoked and supportive the whole town is,” Houshmand said. “I’m having fun, I’m enjoying it, but trying to lock in for the last two (heats). … I’m really just trying to stay in the zone.”

Houshmand, whose board broke during the next heat, would go down in the semi-finals to Pupo, leaving Igarashi to go up against the Brazilian in the day’s final matchup.

In the women’s semifinals, Lindblad was edged out by Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, ending the run for San Clemente’s females. Brooks took out Picklum to earn her spot in her third consecutive final.

The women’s final heat was slow compared to others through the day, but Brooks ended up with the higher two-wave score over Bryan to clinch the title.

With a hard start for the earlier part of the season, the win on Friday was even sweeter, Brooks said.

“I was super down on myself. I lost faith in my ability in surfing,” she said. “I’m just stoked to be here right now.”

Igarashi led much of the heat against Pupo, but a big back-up score nudged the Brazilian to the top spot, the ocean shutting down and not giving Igarashi a chance to battle back.

As the buzzer sounded, Pupo put his arms up, wiping tears from his eyes, shaking his fist to the sky in victory as he rode the jet ski in to shore, a big smile splashed across his face.

Pupo talked about his connection to Lower Trestles.

“It’s been amazing and I’m so thankful to still be here winning events,” he said. “You just have to believe in yourself and keep doing the work.”

Igarashi said he has much respect for Pupo and the hard work he puts in, an inspiration on tour.

Igarashi, who also made the finals at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach a few months ago, thanked the crowds for supporting him.

“Thank you everyone for coming out, I love competing in front of you,” Igarashi said. “To make a couple finals here in California makes me super happy, it really means the world. Let’s keep it going.”

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County scores and player stats for Friday, Sept. 18

• September 19, 2026

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Friday, Sept. 18

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

BOYS WATER POLO

TROY WARRIOR TOURNAMENT

Orange Lutheran 14, San Marino 11

Servite 10, Temple City 9

Beckman 15, Los Alamitos 4

CORONADO AFC TOURNAMENT

Sage Hill 15, Grossmont 10

NONLEAGUE

Kennedy 15, Cypress 6

Northwood 20, Yorba Linda 6

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

RIO VISTA LEAGUE

Oxford Academy 19, Whitney 0

GIRLS TENNIS

NONLEAGUE

Oxford Academy 17, Whittier 1

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

DURANGO FALL CLASSIC

Orangewood Christian (FL) def. Los Alamitos, 26-24, 29-27

Newport Harbor def. Annapolis Area Christian (MD), 2-0

Newport Harbor def. Palo Verde, 25-22, 25-18

Corner Canyon (UT) def. Newport Harbor, 19-25, 25-15, 25-22

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

Rancho Alamitos def. Century, 30-28, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20

​ Orange County Register