Capistrano Valley Starts Fast, Weathers San Clemente Rally

Capistrano Valley scored on its first five possessions but needed a lucky second-half bounce to hold off San Clemente, 42-26, Friday night in a South Coast League game at San Clemente High.

Capistrano Valley (5-3, 3-0), took a 35-13 halftime lead and looked as if it would win easily.

But San Clemente (2-6, 0-3) came out with an unbalanced line in the second half and scored on its first two possessions to cut the deficit to 35-26.

San Clemente forced a punt on the next possession, but the ball hit a San Clemente player on the back of the head, and Capistrano Valley’s Paul Weinraugh recovered at the Triton 32.

Alan Perlas scored on a one-yard run eight plays later, and Capistrano Valley led comfortably again, 42-26, with 9:37 remaining.

“That was a turning point,” said Capistrano Valley Coach Eric Patton. “It stopped their momentum and gave us a little back.”

Perlas led the Cougars with 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yarder.

San Clemente used the big play to the stay in the game. The key scores came on a 51-yard run by Bryan Fischer on the first drive of the second half. Eric DelConte followed with a leaping catch of a Brett Hall pass for a 15-yard touchdown to pull San Clemente within nine.