Eubanks’ Field Goal Gives San Clemente a 22-20 Win

Brent Eubanks kicked a 21-yard field goal with 4 minutes 25 seconds remaining to play to give San Clemente High School a 22-20 victory over Santiago Thursday night at Garden Grove High.

Eubanks’ winning kick capped a second-half comeback for San Clemente (2-1) in which the Tritons overcame deficits of 14-0 and 20-19. Santiago lost its third consecutive game but scored its first touchdowns of the season.

San Clemente scored three touchdowns in the third quarter within a six-minute span. Quarterback Ken Dolan had a one-yard run, linebacker Adrian Diaz ran 20 yards with a fumble recovery and fullback Shane Shanafelt had a 13-yard run for the scores.

Santiago opened a 14-0 lead in the first half behind the running of fullback Alex Ripley and the passing of quarterback Mike Carrasco. Ripley rushed for 109 yards and scored on a one-yard run. He was making his first start since transferring from Garden Grove High.

Carrasco threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noa Utu to give Santiago a 14-0 lead, but the Cavaliers never got untracked in the second half after Ripley suffered an ankle sprain.

Despite its inability to generate any offense in the second half, Santiago managed to regain the lead, 20-19, early in the fourth quarter when defensive back Todd Devaney picked up a fumble by Shanafelt and ran 39 yards for a touchdown.

Eubanks’ winning field goal was set up by a fumble recovery by teammate Rick Winters at Santiago’s 14-yard line with 6:13 remaining to play. San Clemente stalled at Santiago’s 11-yard line and Eubanks easily made the short kick.

Santiago’s final bid to regain the lead ended when San Clemente defensive back Marcus Burke intercepted a pass at his 25-yard line with 51 seconds left to play.