San Clemente's Tenney delivers character, catches

It's after 8 and Graham Tenney  hasn't started his homework.

His 4.4 GPA says it'll get done.

He had football practice and attended Tuesday's meeting for the Fellowship with Christian Athletes with 30 teammates after. When he got home, he spent an hour on the phone with an Ivy League coach.

"Don't worry, I go to bed pretty late," the Tritons receiver said.

When he was 3, it was with a football in his hands. Fifteen years later, he spends his Friday nights the same way.

Tenney leads the county in receptions (69) and is fifth in yards (913) for No. 6 San Clemente (8-2). The Tritons visit Sunset League co-champ Esperanza (7-3) in the opening round of the CIF-SS Pac 5 playoffs Friday night at Valencia High.

"San Clemente is good at throwing the ball," Aztecs coach Bill Pendleton said. "We have to control that."

Tenney wasn't allowed to play tackle football until his freshman season. He was pulled up to varsity three games into his sophomore year after a receiver got hurt.

As a junior, he led the Tritons in catches (34), touchdowns (seven) and was second in receiving yards (386).

"I knew I had to be a leader for the receivers since I was the only starter returning," Tenney said about his senior season.

With a new quarterback, the Tritons' passing attack developed slowly. However, during the team's toughest four-week stretch, Tenney exploded with consecutive games of at least 10 catches and 100 yards and quarterback Duke DeLancellotti passed for more than 300 yards in three of the games.

It went like this: against La Habra - 13 catches, 120 yards; against Dana Hills - 10-154; against Tesoro - 12-189; against Mission Viejo - 10-111. Combined, that's 47 catches for 576 yards in four games.

"We knew Graham was capable of having the season he's having," teammate and running back Ryan Deleon  said. "We look at him like a hero. He always shows up. He's always involved in everything. And he's kind of a ladies' man, I'm not going to lie."

Tenney grew up in San Clemente with his older brother, Kyle, who graduated in 2006. Tenney was always around football. His dad, Terry, coached at Aliso Niguel High.

When Tenney was 9 and in third grade, his dad died. His mom, Sandy, was left to raise her sons.

"It was devastating," she said. "Our faith and friends got us through it. My kids and I realize God has a plan for us.

"It creates a whole new relationship with me and my sons. They have no grandparents either. It's just me and them. We have a renewed closeness. I love them like crazy. I never miss a single thing with my kids."

Sandy sits in the stands during football practices. She roots from the bleachers during his basketball games.

She recognized early her boy was a good athlete. She dared not hang a picture on any wall in the house for all the catch going on. Anything nice would end up broken.

"His mother raised him right," said Tritons offensive coordinator Dave Brown, who leads the Fellowship with Christian Athletes with son Rocky. "She's done a great job with his character value.

"He brings it on the field. He always thanks the coaches at the end of practice. Graham's a man of faith."

A good student who enjoys playing video games and going to the beach with friends. He likes snowboarding and reading a book when time allows.

On the field, his competitive spirit runs silent.

"I'm not all pumped up," Tenney said. "I don't do any talking. I don't really show it, but inside I get nervous before games. I love going out and competing. I know I'm going to get hit hard, but at the end of game, I made it through it."

Tenney can barely explain his success this year. He switched positions from slot to outside. He credits the offensive line for giving DeLancellotti time to throw. Beyond that, "I don't know," Tenney said.

"It's his routes and his jukes," longtime friend, teammate and linebacker Jack Anderson said. "Consistency is the word for him. I wouldn't want to guard him."

Tenney said there isn't much about football he doesn't enjoy, but he knows it's going to end some time. He's looking at Ivy League schools Cornell, Brown, Columbia and Harvard. In the meantime, he's enjoying at least one more week of wearing the pads.

"It's fun to be out there," he said. "Some people don't like practice, but it's fun to be with all your friends, working for one thing. It's really fun to see everyone get satisfaction out of doing our best"

Contact the writer: ctobolski@ocregister.com