SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – San Juan Hills coach Aaron Flowers said before Friday’s game against No. 9 San Clemente that he wanted his team to rely on good vision, especially on the defensive end.
The Stallions saw more than a few opportunities and took advantage early, leading to a 34-20 nonleague win over the Tritons at San Juan Hills High.
Stallions’ quarterback Patrick O’Brien lived up to his billing, tossing three touchdown passes in the first half and running for a fourth in the second half, but the Stallions’ committee of running backs routinely broke tackles to pace the offensive unit.
“We wanted to prove something tonight and I feel like we did that,” O’Brien said. “San Clemente came back in the second half and played a great game, but every guy deserves this win.”
San Juan Hills set the tone immediately by sacking San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears twice on the game’s opening drive.
O’Brien capped the ensuing drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Huff. Following a Tritons fumble, the two hooked up again five minutes later for an 11-yard score.
On occasion, San Clemente appeared poised to respond, but missed passes and turnovers halted momentum. A 60-yard touchdown strike from Sears to running back Vlad Dzhabiyev was called back by a holding penalty in the second quarter.
Tim Newman plunged in for a 1-yard score and Cayden McCluskey hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from O’Brien with 34 seconds remaining to make it 27-0 at halftime.
Devin Wegis, Brock Cazel and Cole Suchesk led a Stallions’ rushing attack that ate up 196 yards.
“Our running backs stepped up and made it hard on us because they all played so well,” Flowers said.
The Tritons took advantage of O’Brien’s lone mistake in the third quarter. Branden Wilson undercut a Huff route and returned an interception 90 yards for San Clemente’s first score.
With momentum swinging, Sears then ripped off a 59-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 27-14. Sears finished with 175 rushing yards and 105 passing yards. He added a passing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Cameron Buchanan provided the final blow for San Juan Hills, intercepting a tipped pass with 2:02 remaining.
O’Brien completed 30 of 37 passes for 320 yards. He added 40 rushing yards.
“You always want this to be the expectation when it comes to big games like this,” Flowers said. “(San Clemente) is a great program. This is a great win for us.”
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
