San Clemente Knocks Dolphins Back Down

Who can figure Dana Hills? A week after blowing out Trabuco Hills and looking like contenders for the South Coast League title, the Dolphins score only one touchdown at home and lose to San Clemente, 10-7, Friday night before about 3,500.

“We’re up and down,” Dana Hills Coach Scott Orloff said. “I don’t know what to expect.”

No one expected such a low scoring game, especially since both teams have piled up points during the league season. The offensive star of the night was San Clemente running back James Allen, who rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown in 19 carries. Allen surpassed Allan Vaughan’s career rushing record of 2,777 yards in the first half, but he was too busy grinding out yardage to notice.

“Did I break it?” he asked. “I didn’t even remember it.”

What Allen will remember is his team’s record, 5-3 overall and 2-1 in league. Dana Hills dropped to 1-7 and 1-2, a record that San Clemente quarterback Dan Coviello had a hard time comprehending.

“What’s up with that?” he said. “That’s hard to believe.”

As poorly as the Dolphins played, they had their chances. Billy Ewing’s interception and 25-yard return gave Dana Hills the ball on San Clemente’s 40 with five minutes to play. But on fourth and one, Kyle Kelly was stopped for no gain by Triton defensive lineman Josh Pridham.

The Dolphins got the ball back with 90 seconds left, but their drive ended when a Joe Murray pass tipped off receiver Damon Alevekios’ hands and into the arms of Mark Martello.

“He should have hit the out,” Orloff said. “It was wide open, but I think he was predetermined to go to Damon.”

Murray started in place of Mike Bergey, who suffered a hip pointer in last week’s victory over Trabuco Hills. Murray and fullback Blake Dossey helped bring the Dolphins back from a 10-0 halftime deficit. Murray engineered an 80-yard, 18-play drive that opened the half. Dossey, who rushed for 26 yards on the drive, scored on a one-yard run to make it 10-7 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

The Dolphins could do nothing right in the first half and were lucky to be down only 10 points. Dana Hills had three illegal procedure fouls called on an offense that seemed out of sync and produced only 33 rushing yards and four first downs.

Meanwhile, San Clemente quarterback Coviello had a nice rhythm going. He connected on eight of 11 first-half passes for 54 yards. The Tritons had the ball for much of the first quarter as they took the opening kickoff 74 yards in 14 plays, consuming 7 minutes 18 seconds. Allen, who carried six times for 37 yards on the drive, scored on a one-yard plunge. San Clemente made it 10-0 on a Tim Hollis 25-yard field goal with 11:03 left in the half.