Sports
Wilson, Elespuru Lead San Clemente Past Long Beach Cabrillo, 35-6
Tritons score on four consecutive possessions in the first half to rout the Jaguars and put behind them several weeks of turmoil involving their former head coach.
For the first time in more than two weeks, San Clemente’s football team had something to talk about rather than the same off-the-field news. And, boy, did they have plenty to say on the field.
Offensively, the Tritons piled up 392 yards, 186 coming from the right arm of Utah-bound Travis Wilson, who completed 12 of 19 passes and threw for three touchdowns. Defensively, the Tritons allowed minus-11 yards on the ground until the final series of the game, forced a couple of fumbles and allowed only one touchdown, which came after time had expired.
That added up to a resounding 35-6 victory over visiting Cabrillo of Long Beach Friday in the season opener for both teams at Thalassa Stadium.
Forgotten, at least for this night, was the fact that longtime San Clemente coach Eric Patton no longer is on the sideline after being placed on administrative leave Aug. 15 following accusations of a kickback scheme involving an athletic supply company.
San Clemente athletic sirector John Hambro, who took over for Patton, said he never doubted that the players would come into the game highly motivated and ready to prove something.
“I knew the kids would come out focused,” Hambro said after the game. “Most of these kids have been playing together since Pop Warner, so I wasn’t worried about all the distractions going on. But it definitely is great to get back to playing and not having to talk about all the things going on off the field.”
Senior running back Mike Elespuru, who rushed 10 times for 81 yards, including a five-yard touchdown, and also had two touchdown receptions of 57 and 44 yards called back because of holding penalties, said he was glad to get the first game over with.
“We wanted to come out here and prove to everyone that we were for real,” said Elespuru, who carried the ball only twice in the second half after suffering cramping. “We weren’t distracted by our coach leaving. We’re here to stay.”
It didn’t take long for San Clemente, the sixth-ranked team in the CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Division coaches' preseason poll and No. 26 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, to show-off its offensive firepower. After punting on their first series, the Tritons scored on their fourth play of the second series when Wilson completed his first pass beyond the line of scrimmage to Jacob Graff for 30 yards into the right corner of the end zone. Bret Miller’s first of five point-after-touchdown kicks gave the Tritons a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Nico Ruberti knocked the ball lose from the Cabrillo returner and Austin Baker recovered the ball on the Jaguars' 45-yard line. Four plays later, Wilson completed his second pass — this one to tight end Chris French, who juggled the ball on the goal line but held on for a 17-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“After our first series, we were clicking. We were definitely clicking.” Elespuru said. “I felt like no one could stop us.”
Another fumble by Cabrillo to start the second quarter was recovered by San Clemente’s Nick Pasquale on the Jaguars' 47, and six plays later, Elespuru scored from the five. Then, with 2:34 remaining before halftime and following an 18-yard punt return by Christian Tober, Wilson drove the Tritons 57 yards in eight plays, finishing with a one-yard touchdown run on the final play of the half for a 28-0 lead.
San Clemente put the game away on the first series of the second half, marching 80 yards in only eight plays, capped by a Wilson-to-Tober touchdown of 51 yards.
Both teams committed many penalties — San Clemente was whistled 10 times for 88 yards and Cabrillo nine times for 77 yards — and the game was halted for 30 minutes in the fourth quarter when Jaguars defensive back Ricky Carrigan suffered a concussion when he tackled Wilson on the one following a 15-yard run. Carrigan was taken off the field on a stretcher.
Cabrillo coach Jason Brown told the Orange County Register that Carrigan was "alert and had full movement in his limbs." According to Brown, Carrigan was taken to Mission Hospital for precautionary observation
The Tritons missed a shutout when they were called for pass interference with 0:00 showing on the game clock after the Jaguars had marched to the Tritons' one. Joshua Thomas scored, but the PAT was no good.
“I wish we would have got that shutout,” Elespuru said.
That will be something the Tritons can shoot for when they travel to Westminster High Thursday to face Fountain Valley at 7 p.m.
