Claremont Turns to Supporting Cast for 44-21 Victory

With its explosive combination of Prep All-American quarterback Dan McGwire and wide receiver Travis Watkins, Claremont High School has a reputation as a passing team.

But it was the rushing attack that did most of the damage Friday night in Claremont’s 44-21 victory over Pomona at Cal Poly Pomona.

Fullback Dean Lambo, a 6-1, 235-pound senior, bowled his way for 116 yards and a touchdown, and halfback Lamont Nash rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns to lead Claremont to its sixth victory in seven games. Pomona is 5-2.

It was billed as a matchup of two of the top prep players in the nation, McGwire and running J.J. Flannigan of Pomona, but neither approached his best performance of the season.

McGwire completed only 6 of 13 passes for 87 yards and had 2 intercepted. He made only two pass attempts in the second half, completing both for short gains.

Flannigan, who was averaging more than 200 yards per game rushing, was held to 68 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries. However, he also managed to score on a seven-yard pass in the second quarter and broke loose for an 85-yard kickoff return at the start of the second half to set up his second touchdown, a 10-yard run on the following play to give Pomona a 21-10 lead.

That was the end of the scoring for the Red Devils.

Claremont scored all five times it had the ball in the second half.

McGwire made it 21-17 on a four-yard quarterback sneak in the third quarter, wrapping up a five-play, 55-yard drive.

On its next possession, the Wolfpack put together a 52-yard drive with David Swartzrunning the final four yards for the go-ahead touchdown and a 24-21 lead.

Pomona took its next possession 44 yards to the Claremont 36 before Flannigan pulled a leg muscle on a running play.

After he left the game, Pomona was forced to punt two plays later, and that was the last time the Red Devils were in Claremont territory.

The Wolfpack scored three touchdowns in the final quarter to make it a runaway. Nash scored on a 14-yard run, defensive back Angel Santiago scored on a 27-yard runback of a fumble, and Nash ran 16 yards for the final touchdown.