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San Clemente clicking on all cylinders
SAN CLEMENTE - A week removed from its season-opening victory in Hawaii, there was no letdown for San Clemente in its home opener against Villa Park on Friday night.
Quarterback Travis Wilson was again a dual threat, and the Tritons defense remained stout in No. 10 San Clemente’s 25-0 victory over the Spartans in nonleague action.
Wilson, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, finished with 146 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also led the Tritons with 85 rushing yards, delivering punishing hits to Spartans defenders on two occasions.
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“I was real happy with Travis,” San Clemente coach Eric Patton said. “He played well. He takes off running and you realize he’s not slow-footed. He’s an athlete. That’s a weapon I’m real happy to have.”
Last week San Clemente (2-0) led, 14-0, after the first quarter in a victory over Baldwin. It took the Tritons much longer to strike against Villa Park (0-1).
The game remained scoreless into the second quarter before Wilson connected with Jacob Graff for a 6-yard score and San Clemente led, 6-0, after the point-after try was missed.
Wilson connected with Graff again before halftime, this time on a 10-yard score and San Clemente went up, 12-0, after its 2-point conversion failed.
“We had a slow first quarter,” Wilson said, “but the passing picked up. I definitely think we were nervous and excited about our first home game.”
Though the offense took time to get going, the defense seemed settled from the start. Other than allowing a pair of long third-down conversions, the Tritons defense was tough to sustain a drive against.
Villa Park’s best field position came late in the fourth quarter when Marcus Wallace’s interception gave the Spartans the ball at San Clemente’s 28.
Villa Park managed to move to the 16, but San Clemente’s defense held on downs.
“We played pretty good,” linebacker Chad Foster said. “The main thing for us was to stop the run.”
Leading 12-0 late in the first half, San Clemente missed an opportunity to extend its margin when a passed was dropped in the end zone for what would have been a sure touchdown. It made the game close deep into the third quarter.
San Clemente found breathing room when Wilson and Terrell Johnson struck for a 31-yard scoring play to make it 18-0 after three quarters.
San Clemente’s final score came late in the fourth quarter on fourth down inside Villa Park’s 10. Mike Elespuru strutted up the middle from 6 yards for the final score.
San Clemente plays host to Fountain Valley next Friday. After its performance against Villa Park, the Tritons hope they found something for that game.
Villa Park visits Valencia on Thursday.
“Overall as a team we are looking for our swagger,” Foster said about the Tritons. “We are searching for that attitude.”
