Tritons Get Going to Beat Woodbridge

Running back Ryan Davis scored three second-half touchdowns to help eighth-ranked San Clemente pull away and defeat Woodbridge, 28-3, in a nonleague game Friday night at San Clemente High.

Woodbridge’s defense limited the Tritons to one first-half score, a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Hayward to Matt Hall in first quarter.

The pass was tipped by a Woodbridge defensive back but Hall grabbed it in the end zone.

Woodbridge (0-4), stayed in the game in the first half with a bruising running attack led by Billy Battle. Battle helped set up a 29-yard field goal by Warrior Steve Terwiske in the second quarter.

“They took the tempo out of our game,” San Clemente Coach Mark McElroy said. “They played good defense and ran the ball well. We told our guys they needed to show up and play in the second half.”

A 33-yard kickoff return by David Magua to open the second half sparked the Tritons. San Clemente (3-1) scored 10 plays later when Hayward found Davis open for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

San Clemente increased its lead to 21-3 in the third quarter when Davis scored on a five-yard run. Davis, who finished with 121 yards, also scored on a one-yard run.

“We couldn’t get on top early,” Hayward said. “We were more focused in the second half and tried to move the ball around a little more.”

Hayward completed 10 of 12 passes in the second half despite suffering a bruised hip midway through the third quarter.

“We had to resort to short passes in the second half because Chris got hurt,” Davis said. “We weren’t clicking in the first half and had to do something different.”