San Clemente’s Resurgence Continues

GARDEN GROVE — Quarterback Brett Hall’s third consecutive 200-yard passing game helped San Clemente continue its impressive showing under first-year Coach Mark McElroy with a 35-12 victory over Santiago Thursday night at Garden Grove High.

Hall completed 10 of 19 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns and also scored a touchdown as San Clemente won for the second time in three games. Hall connected twice with wide receiver Dylan Newman on scoring plays of 23 and 31 yards in the second half.

San Clemente took control late in the first half when linebacker Jared Lawrence broke through Santiago’s line and tackled punter Dan Chavarin for a 14-yard loss at his own 11-yard line.

San Clemente scored four plays later on a one-yard run by running back Allen Vaughan to take a 21-6 lead with only 14 seconds remaining before halftime. It took a strong defensive effort to keep San Clemente close before Hall got untracked in the second half.

San Clemente stopped Santiago three times inside its 20-yard line in the first half, including a goal-line stand that ended at its own two-yard line. Linebackers Ryan Klaasen and Gene Davis ended Santiago’s first drive at the two when they stopped Santiago running back Minh Nguyen for no gain.

Defensive lineman Ryan Norton was instrumental in San Clemente’s next defensive effort after Santiago had driven to the Tritons’ five-yard line. Norton sacked Santiago quarterback Louie Perez on a first and goal at San Clemente’s five-yard line and the Cavaliers never recovered.

Finally, it was a total defensive effort by San Clemente that turned back Santiago a third time after Hall had thrown his first of two interceptions in the half. Perez drove Santiago to San Clemente’s 16-yard line, but a three-yard run and three consecutive incomplete passes was all Santiago (0-3) managed.

Hall had only 27 yards passing in the first half but he completed seven of nine passes for 178 yards in the second half to become the first quarterback to throw for 200 or more yards in three consecutive games since Bill Kenney turned the trick 16 years ago.