SAN CLEMENTE – San Clemente quarterback Sam Darnold missed a lot of practice this week due to illness, but no one could tell by his performance Friday night.
The senior quarterback took part in six touchdowns to lead the Tritons past rival Dana Hills, 49-21.
Darnold completed 16 of 26 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores in the first half.
“He didn’t practice much this week because he was sick, but I thought he really cleaned things up in the second half,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “We’re still a work in progress, but it’s good to get a win against a good rival.”
After both sides endured sloppy starts in the first quarter, the teams started to find stride late in the first half.
Darnold capped a 53-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, then ran the ball again to convert a 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Dolphins senior quarterback Cole Wilber responded quickly, connecting with Jay Schuyler for a 36-yard touchdown pass.
Darnold then hit receiver Jake Russell for gains of 11 and 39 yards to set up his second 2-yard TD run. He later threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cole Harlow to make it 21-7.
Wilber then orchestrated a 14-play, 80-yard drive and Brian Scott scored from 3 yards out to make it 21-14 with 22 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter, Darnold threw touchdown passes of 62 and 47 yards to Brandon Reaves and Harlow to give San Clemente (3-0) a big lead.
But Dana Hills (0-3) kept fighting. As a pair of spectators ran across the field, an unfazed Wilber hit Nate Hernandez for a 16-yard score to make it 42-21, but the Dolphins got no closer.
Wilber completed 21 of 42 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked four times.
Brian Scott rushed for 59 yards and a score on 15 carries for the Dolphins.
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com