Esperanza battles its way past San Clemente

PLACENTIA -Left for dead weeks ago, Esperanza is alive and kicking.

The Aztecs used two key plays and a big drive to move past No. 6 San Clemente, 24-16, in the first round of the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoffs Friday night at Valencia High.(Full game stats.)

Esperanza (8-3) faces top seed Long Beach Poly in the second round.

"We're like cockroaches," Aztecs coach Bill Pendleton said. "We'll survive a nuclear war. These guys are tough. We played our butts off."

San Clemente (8-3) pulled to 17-16 on David Espino's 1-yard touchdown run with 11:30 left in the fourth quarter. However, Sean Avila broke through, blocking the extra-point try and preserving the Aztecs' lead.

San Clemente's next possession began at its 10 with 7:03 to play. Esperanza forced the Tritons to punt with 4:20 left.

The Aztecs gained a key third down on Jared Moore's 13-yard run. Esperanza could have run out the clock, but Casey Wasinack  scored on a 30-yard run and the Tritons got the ball back. Esperanza led, 24-16, when the Tritons took over at their 20 with a minute on the clock. The Tritons drove to the Aztecs 45, but Duke DeLancellotti's fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

"It was very heartbreaking," Tritons coach Eric Patton said. "We made some mistakes. We fought and we battled. I couldn't be prouder of these kids."

Tied at 10 at halftime, Esperanza's second drive of the third quarter began at its 1 and ended with Moore 1-yard scoring run. The Aztecs faced third down three times on the drive, including a third-and-11 that Moore broke for 38 yards.

The Aztecs' second huge play came when trailing, 7-3. Drew Huusfeldt found David Perez  behind the Tritons secondary and Perez took it 70 yards into the end zone. The Aztecs took the lead, 10-7, with 1:54 to go before half.

It was one of two pass receptions for the Aztecs.

"I bobbled it at first," Perez said, "but I wasn't letting go."

San Clemente tied it at 10 on Aaron Jones' 40-yard field goal.

The Tritons opened the scoring on the first drive of the game. DeLancellotti found Ben Gomez  for 47 yards. On the next play, DeLancellotti scrambled 38 yards for the touchdown and San Clemente led, 7-0, three plays into the contest.

"We weren't ready for them," Sean McDonald said. "We made some adjustments and kept our composure."

San Clemente entered averaging 31 points a game. The Aztecs give up 13 a game.

"Our defensive pressure is legit," McDonald said. "We pressure all the time.

"This win is huge. San Clemente is a great team."

• Click here for full game stats and links to season totals and team rosters.

Contact the writer: ctobolski@ocregister.com