San Clemente Wears Down Orange, 42-0

It took a little longer than expected, but San Clemente finally ran down Orange, 42-0, in a nonleague game Friday night at El Modena High.

Running back Ryan Davis rushed for 197 yards in 20 carries and quarterback Chris Hayward ran for another 131 yards in 12 carries as the Tritons’ passing attack took a back seat.

The Tritons (1-1) scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes.

Hayward scored the Tritons’ first touchdown when he kept the ball on an option play, running to his left for 10 yards for the score.

On San Clemente’s next possession, Hayward found wide receiver Richard Buffum open down the middle for a 65-yard touchdown pass play.

Orange (0-2) was successful keeping the ball out of San Clemente’s hands for much of the first half. The Panthers were able to move into scoring position several times, but were kept out of the end zone by the Tritons’ stingy defense led by Reagan West and Quinn Donoghue.

At one point, Orange kicker Steven Gonzalez converted a 35-yard field goal, but Gonzalez was roughed on the attempt and the Panthers chose to take the first down at the nine-yard line.

On the next play, Donoghue intercepted a pass from quarterback James Starr.

Davis scored the Tritons’ third touchdown when he broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left in the first half.

After Orange failed to convert on a fourth and eight at its 40 with 50 seconds left in the half, Hayward made the Panthers pay with a 31-yard touchdown pass to West with 11 seconds left.