SAN CLEMENTE – Andrew Frohner made an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter to preserve San Clemente’s win over Trabuco Hills on Thursday.
Or so it seemed.
Trabuco Hills recovered a San Clemente fumble to get another chance. On fourth and goal at the San Clemente 5-yard line with just over a minute remaining, Frohner tackled Trabuco receiver Jacob Breeland inches short of the goal line as San Clemente beat Trabuco Hills, 42-35, in a Sea View League game at San Clemente High.
The win clinches at least a share of the Sea View League championship for the No. 10 Tritons (8-1, 3-0). It is their first league title since 1999.
Trabuco Hills, ranked No. 5 in the Southwest Division, is 5-4 overall and 2-1 in league.
San Clemente’s USC-bound quarterback, Sam Darnold, threw two touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown. Brandon Reaves had a touchdown reception and two touchdown runs, including a 46-yard scoring run late in the third quarter for what would be the winning touchdown.
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jimmy Jacobs threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns. Breeland had 13 receptions for 181 yards.
It appeared Breeland had a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter for what would have been the tying touchdown. Breeland and Frohner went up for the ball in the end zone, both came down with their hands on it and an official signaled touchdown.
The officials huddled for a few minutes and decided that Frohner had control and the interception.
“It was a back and forth game,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “It was like watching Arena Football.”
San Clemente concludes the regular season with at league game at Aliso Niguel next Friday.
Trabuco Hills plays its regular-season finale next Friday with a league home game against Laguna Hills.
San Clemente took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
Trabuco’s Austin Fine recovered a San Clemente fumble at midfield to get the Mustangs situated for a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jacobs to Campbell Conway to tie the game, 14-14, midway through the second quarter.
San Clemente’s Riley Whimpey blocked a Mustangs punt to put the Tritons on the Trabuco 18. A Darnold run of 17 yards led to Reaves’ 1-yard touchdown run to give San Clemente a 21-14 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first half.
Trabuco Hills tied it again, 21-21, in the final minute of the half on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jacobs to Thompson. A 31-yard pass from Jacobs to Breeland was the big play on that possession.
The Tritons took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Darnold dodged and ran over defenders on a 29-yard touchdown run.
Noah Thompson’s 1-yard touchdown run later in the quarter tied it, 7-7. A 43-yard shovel pass, with Kevin McKinney making the grab and the long run, set up that touchdown.
Darnold completions of 12 and 23 yards set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Vlad Dzhabiyev that put the Tritons back on top, 14-7, with 1:12 left in the first quarter.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com