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Santa Margarita’s football team, which is preparing for its first season under new head coach Carson Palmer, has added a trio of junior linemen, including two All-County selections from Trinity League rival JSerra.
JSerra defensive lineman Simote Katoanga, JSerra offensive lineman Niniva Nicholson and St. Ignatius College Prep of San Francisco defensive lineman Manoah Faupusa have enrolled at Santa Margarita, the players confirmed Friday.
Katoanga is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman who earned first-team All-Trinity League defense honors this past season. He ranks as 247Sports’ No. 10 Class of 2026 recruit in the state.
Nicholson (6-3, 285) was selected first-team All-Trinity League offense last season and joined Katoanga on the All-County second team.
Faupusa, a 6-foot-3, 350-pound defensive tackle, was named the West Catholic Athletic League’s defensive lineman of the year in his first season at St. Ignatius.
He is a former standout at Los Alamitos and the nephew of expected Santa Margarita assistant coach Lenny Vandermade, who coached St. Ignatius last season.
Please send football news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy
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