Rettig helps San Clemente pass a big hurdle

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA - Quarterback Chase Rettig threw four touchdown passes and San Clemente’s defense forced four second-half turnovers as the Tritons took a major step toward reaching the playoffs with a 34-28 victory at Tesoro on Thursday night.

The Tritons improved to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the South Coast League.

"That was a big one," said Rettig, a Boston College commit who passed for 291 yards and rushed for 46.

Two-time defending league champion Tesoro (3-5, 0-3) suffered a major blow to its playoff chances.

"The winner of this game, we said all week, probably goes to the playoffs," Tesoro coach Brian Barnes said.

San Clemente’s passing attack and defense provided the winning combination. The turning point came on the second-to-last play in the third quarter when Tritons' defensive back Brian Adams recovered a fumble at his 10-yard line.

Tesoro led 21-17 but Rettig and wide out Dominick Ela quickly changed the score. Rettig gave the Tritons the lead for good by connecting on a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ela on a slant pattern less than two minutes into the fourth.

Ela finished with eight receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

Later in the fourth, the Tritons' turned an interception by Adams at Tesoro’s 26 into another score. On third-and-4, San Clemente lined up four receivers in a diamond to the left and sent Ela on a fade pattern to the right against one-on-one coverage. Ela made a leaping catch on a high pass by Rettig and the Tritons’ led 31-21 with 5:30 left.

"He was on fire," Ela said of Rettig, who finished 18 of 29 with no interceptions.

Linebacker Rudy Oropeza forced a fumble on Tesoro’s next possession. Kicker Aaron Jones then converted a 33-yard field goal for a 34-21 lead with 3:59 left. Tesoro quarterback Brett Mason responded with a 1-yard touchdown run but the Tritons recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.

San Clemente forced five turnovers and converted four into 24 points. At one stretch of the second half, the Tritons force turnovers on four consecutive possessions.

San Clemente only had one turnover.

"You don't deserve to win if you turn the ball over five times," Barnes said.

Late in the first half, Rettig drove San Clemente 63 yards for a touchdown in the final 36 seconds to tie the score, 14-14. Rettig went 4 for 5 on the drive, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Terrell Johnson on the final play of the half.

Tesoro took a 14-7 lead on the previous possession, driving 79 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown. Running back Zach Mitchell scored his first of two touchdowns with a 3-yard run with 36 seconds left. Mitchell scored after San Clemente's lone turnover - a fumble at the Titans' 20.

San Clemente opened the game by driving to the Titans' 5-yard line. The Tritons' had a first-and-goal at the 5 but a delay of game penalty on third down and Tesoro's defense stopped San Clemente at the 1.

Adams finished with two interceptions. San Clemente running back David Espino ran for 109 yards and added 48 receiving.