ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: PREP EXTRA : San Clemente Dominates Trabuco Hills, 44-0

Only a few years ago, San Clemente missed the playoffs by losing its final game of the regular season and Trabuco Hills went on to a third Southern Section title.

In a South Coast League game Thursday night that decided which team would advance to the Division I playoffs, the Tritons scored 21 second-quarter points to beat Trabuco Hills, 44-0, in front of 1,200 at Trabuco Hills High.

San Clemente (8-2, 4-1), ranked fourth in Orange County, is assured of no worse than third place. If Mater Dei wins tonight, a coin flip will decide the order of finish for playoff seeding.

“This is a better team than in ‘93,” San Clemente Coach Mark McElroy said. “I think we’re going to compete in the playoffs.”

The Mustangs (3-7, 2-3) will miss the playoffs for the first time since their first varsity season.

San Clemente quarterback Chris Boden and wide receiver Trevor Insley combined for 147 yards and touchdowns of 18 and 28 yards. Insley had seven catches. Boden was 18 of 24 for 256 yards. He also threw a three-yard scoring pass to Greg Lang with 1 minute 21 seconds left for a 24-0 halftime lead.

Running back Ryan Davis added 123 yards rushing and scored on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Tritons had 397 total yards.

The Tritons, who posted their third shutout of the year, limited Trabuco Hills’ offense to 117 total yards. Bryan Carter carried 22 times for 51 yards for the Mustangs.