Carson Palmer: “I wish we had a couple more games left”

For Carson Palmer, the former NFL quarterback and head football coach of the No. 8 Santa Margarita Catholic Eagles, their season officially ended this past Saturday when they defeated No. 17 De La Salle, 47-13, for California’s Open Division state championship.

In an interview after the win over De La Salle, Palmer stated that he thought his team was playing its best football of the season and wishes his alma mater had one more game left, maybe against a team out of the state of Georgia or another nationally ranked team.

“It’s been an unreal year, from start to finish,” Palmer said to the Los Angeles Times’ Eric Sondheimer. “With the senior class, it has been spectacular. Could not be more proud of these guys, Could not be prouder [of] our coaching staff and support system. This is [an] unbelievable run. We are playing good football. I wish we had a couple more [games] left. Maybe [a] team in Georgia. Maybe somebody else out there.”

The season might be over for Santa Margarita Catholic, but when Palmer points to his club is playing its best football of the season, he’s got a valid point.

The Eagles’ recent run of victories includes impressive wins over nationally ranked teams like De La Salle, Corona Centennial, Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei and Sierra Canyon. Palmer mentioning his wishes of his team possibly playing a team out of Georgia or somewhere else possibly points to seeing themselves crowned as a national champion of high school football.

One would have to wonder what a matchup between Santa Margarita Catholic and a team like Carrollton (Ga.), Buford (Ga.) or St. Frances Academy (Md.), which won the Overtime Nationals championship last week, would’ve been like. All we’re left with is to imagine what that could’ve turned into.

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