San Clemente scores 22 straight to claim first state title

It’s in the DNA of San Clemente High football players that when the going gets tough, they persevere, grind away and wait for any opening to turn adversity into success.

Down by 17 points late in the first half of Saturday’s CIF state championship Division 1-A bowl game, the Tritons had little going for them against Loomis Del Oro. That hardly mattered. A turnover, a relentless pass rush from Austin Moore and terrific athleticism from running back Brandon Reaves helped San Clemente score 22 consecutive points and pull out a 22-17 victory on a chilly night at Sacramento State.

“The adrenaline was through the roof, and it was the best feeling ever,” said the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Moore, who recorded three sacks in the second half.

It was Reaves’ 54-yard punt return for a touchdown with 5:38 left that gave San Clemente its first lead of the game.

“I caught it and saw no one to the right side, so I just ran to the right and got a big block at the end that pushed me into the end zone,” he said.

Reaves also had a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His parents are Marines, so he’s learned to never give up.

As if coming back from a 17-0 deficit wasn’t enough adversity, San Clemente (13-3) received another shock as they tried to run out the clock.

Del Oro had no timeouts left when San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears fumbled at the opponent’s one-yard line. Camrion Davis recovered the ball in the Del Oro end zone for a touchback with 48 seconds left.

It had been a difficult night for Sears, the USC quarterback commit who was intercepted twice by Davis and passed for just 95 yards. But Coach Jaime Ortiz inserted Sears to play on defense in the secondary, and on the final play of the game, he came up with an interception.

“Oh, my god! Oh, my god!” San Clemente players shouted on the field during their victory celebration.

“We always like to make it close,” Ortiz said. “The kids did a great job battling back.”

The game’s momentum shifted late in the second quarter when San Clemente recovered a fumble at the Del Oro 10. Sears completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chase Berman. Then the Tritons picked up a safety on a high punt snap to cut their deficit to 17-9 at halftime.

It was San Clemente’s defense that kept the team in the game while waiting for someone to make a big play on offense.

“Austin Moore was a physical presence in the second half,” Ortiz said.

San Clemente won its first Southern Section Division 2 football title in school history two weeks ago and now has its first state championship bowl title.

“How ‘bout those Tritons,” Ortiz said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Follow Eric Sondheimer on Twitter @latsondheimer