Skip to content
  • San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears releases a touchdown pass to...

    San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears releases a touchdown pass to Cole Fotheringham during the first quarter of Friday's nonleague game against La Mirada at San Clemente.

  • San Clemente players make their way back to the field...

    San Clemente players make their way back to the field during Friday's nonleague game against La Mirada at San Clemente.

  • The San Clemente band performs at halftime during a nonleague...

    The San Clemente band performs at halftime during a nonleague game between San Clemente and La Mirada at San Clemente on Friday.

  • The San Clemente band performs at halftime during a nonleague...

    The San Clemente band performs at halftime during a nonleague game between San Clemente and La Mirada at San Clemente on Friday.

  • San Clemente's Liam Buhl records a sack on La Mirada's...

    San Clemente's Liam Buhl records a sack on La Mirada's Tristan Meyer during the second quarter of Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks avoids a tackle attempt by San...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks avoids a tackle attempt by San Clemente's Tristin Carroll during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears decides to keep the ball...

    San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears decides to keep the ball and runs downfield during Friday's nonleague game against La Mirada at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks keeps his eyes on the San...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks keeps his eyes on the San Clemente defense as he moves closer to the end zone during the first quarter of Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Mario Hernandez gets away from the San Clemente...

    La Mirada's Mario Hernandez gets away from the San Clemente defense during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks is surrounded by the San Clemente...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks is surrounded by the San Clemente defense during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks tries to stay on his feet...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks tries to stay on his feet as San Clemente's Branden Wilson attemps to tackle him during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • San Clemente's Vlad Dzhabiyev rips through a seam in the...

    San Clemente's Vlad Dzhabiyev rips through a seam in the La Mirada defense and makes a break for it on the very first play from scrimmage during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • Two La Mirada players remove their helmets as the San...

    Two La Mirada players remove their helmets as the San Clemente band plays the National Anthem during a nonleague game between San Clemente and La Mirada at San Clemente on Friday.

  • La Mirada captain Sei-j Lauago takes a quiet moment to...

    La Mirada captain Sei-j Lauago takes a quiet moment to himself before a nonleague game between San Clemente and La Mirada at San Clemente on Friday.

  • San Clemente's Vlad Dzhabiyev doesn't let losing his helmet stop...

    San Clemente's Vlad Dzhabiyev doesn't let losing his helmet stop him from bringing down La Mirada's Rj Lan on a kickoff during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • San Clemente's Liam Eldridge jumps into the arms of Cole...

    San Clemente's Liam Eldridge jumps into the arms of Cole Fotheringham after scoring a touchdown during Friday's nonleague game against La Mirada at San Clemente.

  • San Clemente's Liam Eldridge gets his hands above La Mirada's...

    San Clemente's Liam Eldridge gets his hands above La Mirada's Elijah Hicks to reel in a touchdown pass in the second quarter during a nonleague game between San Clemente and La Mirada at San Clemente on Friday.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks escapes a tackle attempt from San...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks escapes a tackle attempt from San Clemente but is eventually pushed out of bounds during Friday's nonleague game at San Clemente.

  • La Mirada's Elijah Hicks is hoisted into the air by...

    La Mirada's Elijah Hicks is hoisted into the air by teammate Kobe Toa after scoring a touchdown late in the second quarter during Friday's nonleague game against host San Clemente.

of

Expand
Author

SAN CLEMENTE – Over the past two weeks, San Clemente had made statements through big starts. Friday night against La Mirada, it was how the Tritons finished that made the impact.

Trailing at halftime, San Clemente’s quick-strike offense gave it the lead, while its defense and special teams sealed a 42-26 nonleague victory at San Clemente High.

Quarterback Jack Sears completed 13 of 15 passes – including all five of his second-half attempts – for 224 yards and four touchdowns to three different receivers.

Tight end Cole Fotheringham caught one of those passes and threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Liam Eldridge to help San Clemente (3-1) regain the lead in the third quarter.

“We were really clicking tonight and I think we’re going to keep progressing,” Sears said. “We have a lot of weapons. We know what we want to do and the coaches prepare us well.”

With a 27-26 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Sears hit Brandon Reaves for a 55-yard score. Three minutes later, a bad snap by La Mirada was covered by Austin Whitsett in the end zone to give the Tritons a cushion. San Clemente added a safety on the Matadores’ ensuing drive to cap its 21 consecutive points in leading to the final score.

Tackling issues resurfaced early for the Tritons, who allowed La Mirada running back Sei-j Lauago to knife through the defense on multiple occasions for 82 first-half yards (133 total) and a score.

Matadores quarterback Tristan Meyer was a nice complement early, tossing a touchdown pass to Elijah Hicks late in the first half for a 19-14 lead.

In the second half, neither factored into the scoring.

“We changed our coverage up a little bit and gave them a few different looks,” Tritons coach Jaime Ortiz said. “We knew this game was going to be won in August with our conditioning.”

Sears threw a four-yard TD pass to Fotheringham to open the scoring. La Mirada (1-3) responded with a long drive, capped by a one-yard sneak by Meyer.

The Matadores then put San Clemente in its first deficit since Week 0 when Lauago capped their next drive with a one-yard TD. Sears would later respond with a 23-yard TD pass to Eldridge, who finished with three catches for 128 yards.

San Clemente’s second-half push was aided by La Mirada penalties. The Matadores were flagged four times for 40 curcial yards in the second half.

Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com