Santa Margarita running back channels inner John Elway on run

John Elway’s iconic helicopter touchdown in Super Bowl 33 was taken to a new level during a high school football game on Friday night.

Sophomore running back Adrian Petero of Santa Margarita High School ran it just like they drew it up during the Eagles’ 41-0 victory against Inderkum High School.

23 yards away from the endzone, Petero ran a swing route, caught the ball from quarterback Fletch Palmer, and made four defenders miss on a reception that was just marked a yard short of a touchdown.

Petero stepped over a defender who dove towards his legs; then, as he was trying to regain his balance, another defender dove at him again, resulting in him rolling over him and landing back on his feet.

Leaving everyone in attendance in shock from what they just saw, Petero’s legs kept going as he would stiff-arm the third defender and run through another for the touchdown.

The play that left everyone attending the game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo was crowned as “Sports Centers” No.1 play on Friday night.

After meeting the fourth defender on the play, Petero was just marked out of bounds by the officials calling the game.

After appearing in 12 games as a freshman last year, Petero has been making his mark in his second season by being the Eagles’ leading rusher this season, with 55 carries for 301 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Santa Margarita is in the middle of its second season with Carson Palmer serving as its head coach, who is a former alumnus of the school and is also a Heisman winning trophy winner at USC.

Last season was a statement year for Palmer’s team, as he led the Eagles to their second CIF Southern Section championship and CIF State Championship last year.

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