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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

OCVarsity’s preview of the San Clemente-Edison football game on Saturday in the CIF State South Region championships.

DIVISION 1-A

San Clemente (11-3) vs. Edison (13-1)

Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Spectrum SportsNet

Fan info: General admission, $12; students (with valid school ID) and children, $8.

Outlook: Two streaking CIF-SS champions meet for a berth in the state championship Dec. 17 at Sacramento State. The Tritons, ranked seventh in Orange County, bounced back from a lopsided loss against Mission Viejo in Week 10 to capture their first CIF title. They claimed the Division 2 crown by defeating No. 2 seeded Murrieta Valley, 41-35, in the final. San Clemente also knocked off the division’s top-seeded team, Heritage of Romoland, 23-19, in the second round. San Clemente won another close game in the semifinals, defeating Valencia of Valencia, 41-35. Quarterback Jack Sears has sparked San Clemente’s postseason run. In the playoffs, the USC commit has averaged 106 yards rushing and 190 yards passing. He also remained accurate with 11 TDs and no interceptions. For the season, Sears has passed for 2,256 yards and 33 TDs with only two interceptions, both in a 41-3 loss against Mission Viejo. The senior also has rushed for team-high 1,015 yards. His top target is Brandon Reaves, who has 64 receptions. The senior also has rushed for 702 yards and is a dangerous return man. Sears and Reaves overshadow junior running back Austin Whitsett, who has rushed for a combined 210 yards the past two games. San Clemente’s trio of Sears, Whitsett and Reaves rushed for 311 yards last week. The Tritons played at Huntington Beach earlier this season, collecting a 38-13 victory over the Oilers. Edison has won nine consecutive games since a 42-0 loss to Division 1 runner-up Mater Dei. The Chargers won the Sunset League and defeated top-seeded La Mirada, 44-24, in the Division 3 final for their second section crown under Coach Dave White, who is retiring after the season. Edison, ranked third in the county, edged Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley, 32-28, in the semifinals. Junior quarterback Griffin O’Connor has continued his breakout season in the postseason, averaging 229 yards per game. He has set single-season school records for yards (3,329) and TDs (34). EJ Ginnis (51 catches) and Shaun Colamonico (50 catches) lead a deep receiving group. Junior running back Jack Carmichael also has been a playoff standout, averaging 116 yards per game. His brother, Kenny, has racked up a single-season school-record 18.5 sacks. In 2012, Edison lost to Serra of Gardena, 27-10, in a Division 2 regional at Orange Coast College. The Edison-San Clemente winner plays the winner of Del Oro (12-2) and Bakersfield (11-2), who play Saturday night. Last season, Del Oro won the Division II-AA title.  

Contact the reporter: dalbano@scng.com