Eisenhower Rallies to Eliminate Tritons

Jonathan Palmer redeemed himself for missing a point-after attempt that would have tied the score by kicking a 36-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining in the game to give Rialto Eisenhower a 23-21 victory over San Clemente in first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs Friday night at Eisenhower.

Eisenhower trailed, 21-20, with 2 minutes 29 seconds left after Derrick Sheppard scored his second touchdown of the game on a 13-yard run. But Palmer’s missed kick prevented Eisenhower from tying the score.

The Eagles held the Tritons to four downs and drove the ball 47 yards within a minute to get in position for the winning kick.

“These were two evenly matched teams, and I predicted this would be a close game,” said Eisenhower Coach Tom Hoak. “I know from watching them on film and on the field that they’re a lot better than a fourth place team in their league.”

San Clemente appeared to have things under control in the second quarter, scoring 21 consecutive points. All three touchdowns were scored by Jake Jones, the first coming on a 14-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.

San Clemente surprised the Eagles with an onside kick that was recovered by Derrick Frazer on the Eisenhower 43 yard-line. Jones broke a 7-7 tie when he caught a 10-yard scoring pass from Oscar Montecinos on a fourth down and three.

Jones scored on a 37-yard pass from Montecinos with 4:43 left in the first half.

Sheppard drew the Eagles within seven when he scored on a four-yard touchdown run with three minutes left in the third quarter.