Palmer Overcomes Flu, Katella

MISSION VIEJO — “Carson Palmer to John Minardi” is a phrase Colorado Coach Rick Neuheisel hopes to hear often in his future. Minardi is already committed to play at Colorado and Neuheisel is hoping to also lure Palmer.

After Palmer’s performance Friday night, Neuheisel, who watched from the Santa Margarita sideline, is liking the sound of it even more, as the Eagles routed Katella, 45-7, in the first round of the Southern Section Division V playoffs at Saddleback College.

The Eagles will play Servite in the second round, a team they beat, 55-14, earlier this season.

Eagle quarterback Palmer, who didn’t play the first quarter because of the flu, started the second after watching the defending champions fall behind, 7-3, at the end of the first.

“I’m feeling better since this morning,” said Palmer. “It’s the third time I’ve had to sit out the beginning of the game. I don’t like it, but I had to do it.”

Palmer came in and calmly led Santa Margarita, completing 11 of 14 passes for three touchdowns--all to Minardi--and 222 yards. With the 222 yards, Palmer breaks the Santa Margarita career passing record with 3,755 yards. The previous record was held by Sean O’Brien, who passed for 3,721 yards from 1990 to 1992.

Having Neuheisel at the game, may have helped.

“It was definitely an incentive to play harder,” said Palmer, who still isn’t sure where he wants to go to college. “Maybe [Colorado], but I’m not sure. I’ll take my trips and then decide.”

After falling behind, 7-3, in the first quarter on a 75-yard touchdown run by Katella’s Francis Johnson, the Eagles woke up.

Despite having his opening pass intercepted by Katella’s Arthur Tiscareno and his second pass fall incomplete, Palmer regrouped and completed his next seven, three of those to Minardi for touchdowns of five, 63 and 35 yards.

Minardi, who is on pace to set a new state record for yards per reception, finished the game with eight catches for 193 yards. The current record is 20.4, held by Yuba City’s Brian Brown in 1988. Minardi is averaging 21.0.

The Eagles’ other three touchdowns came from running back Bryant Wolfsberger, who finished with 19 carries for 96 yards.