McClelland’s Defensive Play Helps Blunt North Offense

Herman Baine of Westminster High School had never really heard about Newport Harbor’s Kevin McClelland, who played alongside Baine at linebacker for the South in Friday night’s 27th Orange County all-star football game.

All Baine knew about Newport Harbor was that it had a quarterback named Shane Foley who set the Orange County career passing record last fall and is on his way to USC.

But Baine knows who McClelland is now.

McClelland, a 6-foot 3-inch, 226-pounder, was all over the field, making several key tackles, an interception and helping the South’s defense stop what was supposed to be an outstanding North offense.

For his efforts in leading the South to a 28-13 victory at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium, McClelland was named defensive player of the game.

“He’s a smart player who plays the whole field well,” Baine said. “He’s impressive.”

McClelland, who is headed for Boise State on a football scholarship, intercepted North quarterback Tim Rosenkranz in the second quarter, but his biggest play came in the fourth period.

Trailing, 21-13, with about seven minutes remaining, the North had a fourth-and-two on its 33-yard line with Wade Clester, who played quarterback last fall at Loara High, back in punt formation.

Clester took the snap, stepped to his right and completed a pass to Pacifica’s Bill Hardesty in the flat. But McClelland, sensing the fake, came up in time to drop Hardesty for a two-yard loss that gave the South possession and virtually clinched the victory.

The South went on to drive 30 yards for a touchdown and an insurmountable 28-13 lead with 4:56 to play.

“I was thinking about the fake,” McClelland said. “They told me at the last second to watch for the fake, so I floated with the play.”

McClelland had been a two-way starter for the Sailors last fall, playing tight end on offense and linebacker on defense. He caught 57 passes for 725 yards and 9 touchdowns, and was the receiver Foley always went to when Newport Harbor needed a big play.

But McClelland is concentrating solely on defense now.

“I think he played the best all-around game of his life tonight,” Foley said. “He made some really big plays with his interception and all those third-down tackles. I think playing just one way has really helped him.”

Led by McClelland, Baine and Huntington Beach’s Scott Moberly, the South defense shut down Valencia running back Ray Pallares, the state’s all-time leading rusher, and La Habra’s 5-9, 215-pound running back Chuck Weatherspoon, one of the county’s most punishing rushers.

Pallares finished with 51 yards on 12 carries, and Weatherspoon had 40 yards on 10 carries. Midway through the fourth quarter, the pair had just 48 yards between them, but they came on the final minutes to double their output.

“I expected a lot more from both Chuck and Ray,” McClelland said. “We were a lot more intense because they are both great backs. I’ve seen them on film, and I was just glad we were able to shut them down.”

The South also limited Rosenkranz and Los Alamitos quarterback J. T. Snow to a combined 125 yards passing, and intercepted them three times.