SAN CLEMENTE – San Clemente took advantage of three first-half turnovers by visiting La Costa Canyon, turning each of them into points that gave the Tritons a 17-0 victory in a nonleague football game Friday at San Clemente High.
The Tritons (3-0) scored all of their points in the second quarter, all of them coming after miscues by La Costa Canyon. Two of the turnovers came on special teams plays.
“That’s big,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said of his team’s ability to generate turnovers. “We had a short field on both (fumbles) and we held them, and we also had a turnover on the field-goal block. That’s big. That’s an example of our kids not quitting, and to keep on battling to keep that shutout going.”
San Clemente got on the scoreboard at the beginning of the second quarter with a 22-yard field goal by Kai Trager. The points came after a bad snap on a punt resulted in a turnover on downs by La Costa Canyon.
La Costa Canyon (1-2) dropped the ball on a punt return later in the quarter. The ball was recovered by Max Kotiranta, and the Tritons scored on a 5-yard run by Blake Allen.
The Tritons added to their lead just 19 seconds later, thanks to a Nolan Reed sack that resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Owen Bolliger.
Broderick Rodden threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Mason Ord to give San Clemente a 17-0 lead.
La Costa Canyon had five turnovers in the game.
“Defense won this game for us,” Allen said. “We were able to capitalize on all those turnovers. That’s what won us this game. It was crazy. Huge momentum-shifter and it flattens their offense.”
The Mavericks attempted to score on a 42-yard field goal by Tyler Robles, but it fell short.
Robles came back in the fourth quarter to kick a 21-yard field goal, but Reed blocked it and secured the Tritons’ shutout.
“We saw what they were doing on film all week,” Reed said. “We saw their tendencies. We came in there looking to get more three-and-outs. That’s exactly what we did and we executed on it.”
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Reed had two sacks and a field goal block. Allen rushed for 88 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown, and Rodden completed 10 of 14 passes for 106 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Caden Quinn and Cooper Mau each had eight tackles for La Costa Canyon while Mau added an interception. Bode Estabrook caught five passes for 56 yards.
Next week San Clemente will take on Corona del Mar at Newport Beach High.