SAN CLEMENTE – The rallying cry cut through the chilly air just before San Clemente ended its postgame team huddle Friday night.
“Let’s finish it!” someone shouted after the Tritons advanced to their second consecutive CIF-SS Southwest Division championship game with a style-pleasing yet physically dominant, 63-34, victory against visiting Buena Park in the semifinals.
Second-seeded San Clemente (11-2) will play against top-seeded La Habra, a 42-21 winner against Villa Park, in the finals Friday at a site to be announced.
San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said the game will be played Friday to accommodate television and speculated that it could be played at Cerritos College because of the expected crowd. The Highlanders (12-1) are the host school.
“We got some unfinished business,” Ortiz told his players, many of whom were part of the Tritons’ team that fell in the finals last season to Trabuco Hills, 44-37.
“We still got some work to do. This is a great opportunity.”
San Clemente advanced to consecutive finals for the first time by rushing for 399 yards against Buena Park (10-3).
Running back Vlad Dzhabiyev led the way with 184 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Sophomore Austin Whitsett had a 123 yards and a TD and Brandon Reaves added 90 yards rushing and also caught a TD.
Buena Park coach Anthony White commented on the size of San Clemente’s players before the game and the Tritons’ large offensive line dominated. The Tritons jumped to a 36-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter behind offensive linemen Zachary Cochrun, Turner Tonkovich, Noah Valovich, Donte Harrington and Tucker Scott.
San Clemente’s first 10 plays were runs.
“We just got behind our line once again,” said San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears, who passed for 142 yards and three TDs. “That’s what we trust in.”
San Clemente also forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Bryce Wilson and one by his brother, Branden. The turnovers were critical as both offenses moved the ball. San Clemente outgained Buena Park, 576-575.
The Tritons’ style points came on two trick plays for touchdowns. Dzhabiyev scored on a 34-yard run in the first quarter on a fake punt, taking an option pitch from Sears.
The Tritons’ signature play arrived just before halftime.
Facing fourth-and-5 from the Coyotes 35, Sears came out of his last timeout and lined up in the shotgun with 37 seconds left. But the junior soon took several steps toward the line of scrimmage, pointed to his left and right before running to receiver to his right.
The direct snap went to Dzhabiyev, who ran left to give a reverse handoff to tight end Cole Fotheringham. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior then lofted a pass that hit Sears in stride at the end 10 for a 43-14 halftime lead.
“We’ve been waiting on that one for a little bit,” Sears said of the play. “It was a lot of fun.”
Fotheringham also caught two TD passes from Sears.
Buena Park charged to the end. Quarterback Zach Taylor passed for 434 yards and four TDs and also rushed for another. Junior Jeremiah Hawkins dazzled with 10 catches for 214 yards.
“We’ve always had heart,” Taylor said. “We knew it was going to be a tough one. … Our mistake was starting out slow.”
San Clemente led, 49-28, going into the fourth quarter and quickly sealed the victory on a leaping interception at midfield by Bryce Wilson on the second play. Three plays later, Sears connected over the middle to Fotheringham for a 34-yard touchdown.
The teams then traded scores, with Dzhabiyev capping the scoring with a 37-yard run with 6:09 left.
San Clemente also advanced to the CIF finals in 1979 and 2011.
“This is a very special (senior) group,” Ortiz said. “When they were sophomores, we asked them to be senior leaders and they took that role on: Vlad, Cole, Tucker, Donte. Now the fruits of their labor are paying off.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
