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As Santa Margarita celebrated its CIF-SS Division 1 football championship, one scene beamed with the joy and tight-knit support that have become the Eagles’ trademarks under coach first-year Carson Palmer.

After Palmer hoisted the title plaque and took a knee to pray The Our Father with this team, several players excitedly huddled around injured cornerback Jayden Crowder to take photos with the senior.

Crowder, who blossomed into a USC commit with the Eagles, flashed a bright smile as he soaked in the affection from his teammates at the Rose Bowl.

“Right now, we’re turnt,” Crowder said after the Eagles’ stunningly lopsided 42-7 victory against Centennial on Friday. “I’m still with my guys.”

“I love this team,” he added. “This team is great. It’s so close.”

Crowder also expressed “mixed emotions” because he missed the game with a foot fracture.

He suffered the injury returning the opening kickoff 55 yards against Orange Lutheran in the semifinals.

On Friday, Crowder wore a walking boot and road a scooter to support his foot.

He said he will “probably” miss Santa Margarita’s CIF State Open Division championship game against De La Salle (12-0) on Dec. 13 at Saddleback College at 8 p.m.

Crowder plans to focus on physical therapy and graduating early from Santa Margarita to enroll at USC.

He is expected to sign with the Trojans’ recruiting class, ranked No. 1 by rivals, on Wednesday.

“Staying home,” Crowder said of the Trojans, who also have commitments from Santa Margarita’s Trent Mosley and Simote Katoanga.

Signing Day will continue to mark Crowder’s rise since he transferred to Santa Margarita from Mater Dei following his sophomore season.

He entered the final with two interceptions, seven passes defensed and two blocked field goals.

He credits his improvement to working with Santa Margarita defensive back coach Aire Justin this season and Corey Overton in 2024.

“I definitely developed a lot (at Santa Margarita),” Crowder said.

THE PALMER EFFECT

Jim Hartigan, Santa Margarita’s vice president of athletics, offers a unique perspective on Palmer’s coaching rise.

Hartigan coached Palmer in high school at Santa Margarita, long before the quarterback’s Heisman Trophy and Pro Bowl selections in the NFL.

Hartigan said Palmer was the “right guy” to guide a strong team and coaching staff. Palmer also helped the offense improve and connected well with players, Hartigan added.

“They respect him because of who he is and what he’s done as a player but (also) as a person (with) his relationships with these kids, his leadership style on what the expectations are,” Hartigan said.

“He really has a great, calm demeanor on the sideline and even getting ready for the game,” Hartigan added. “There never seems to be a panic or a feeling that he hasn’t been in that position before. He has. He does a great job showing that to his kids.”

SHORT ROUTES 

First-year starting quarterback Colin Creason completed 16 of 21 passes for 195 yards and one TD to help rally Los Alamitos past San Clemente 33-20 in the Division 2 final. In July, Griffins coach Ray Fenton called the senior “the best-kept secret in Southern California.” …

On Friday, Los Alamitos (12-2) plays host to Cathedral Catholic (10-2) in the CIF SoCal Regional Division 1-AA Bowl at Veterans Stadium. …

La Habra linebacker Barrett Blied recorded 10 tackles in a 27-13 victory against San Jacinto in the Division 4 final. “The guy who really improved this year was Blied,” Highlanders coach Frank Mazzotta said of 6-foot-2, 205 pound junior. …

San Jacinto coach Aric Galliano said he was nervous facing Mazzotta, who claimed an Orange County-recording tying eighth section title. “He’s been a mentor,” Galliano said of Mazzotta. …

Mazzotta said two of his former players now in the NFL — Kyle Peko (Chargers) and Greg Gaines (Tampa Bay) — helped pay for La Habra’s rooter buses to Oaks Christian and San Jacinto in the playoffs. La Habra (11-3) plays at Bakersfield Christian (12-0) on Friday in Division 2-AA Bowl. …

Beckman cornerback Xavier Musselman-Cano nabbed his ninth interception in a 30-24 win in overtime against Brea Olinda in the Division 8 final. Patriots coach Marcello Giuliano attributes the interceptions to the sophomore’s practice and film study. “And a big part of it is God-given abilities to track the ball,” the coach said Musselman-Cano (5-9, 155). “Multiple of these INTs were when he was wearing a cast and they’re one-handed grabs.”

Beckman (11-3) plays host to Hillcrest (9-5) in the Division 4-A Bowl on Saturday at Tustin High. The Patriots’ 10-game winning streak is the longest active in the county. …

Woodbridge freshman QB Waylon Stone completed 10 of 14 passes for 153 yards and also rushed for 137 yards and two scores in a 24-23 win against Montebello in the Division 13 final. “He’s the reason why we’re (in the finals),” senior offensive lineman Ben Jenkins-Amara said of Stone before the game. “He’s a great leader on the field. By the time he’s a senior, I think he’s going to be someone really special.”

Woodbridge (6-8) plays host to San Fernando (11-3) at University High in the Division 7AA Bowl on Friday.