El Toro Has Nowhere to Run

San Clemente’s bookend 6-foot-7 defensive ends, Tim Burnette and Justin Tomerlin, destroyed El Toro’s passing attack and the rest was easy for the sixth-ranked Tritons, who stopped El Toro, 24-0, Friday night at Trabuco Hills High.

The Tritons’ defense, which held El Toro (3-4, 1-1) to 160 yards of offense and eight first downs, has not allowed a touchdown in 12 consecutive quarters.

“That’s as good as any defensive performance I’ve been associated with,” San Clemente Coach Eric Patton said. “Both Burnette and Tomerlin were on fire tonight. We let them go with their ears pinned back and they couldn’t be stopped.”

El Toro quarterback Tom Kirchmeyer came into the game completing 50% of his passes and had thrown for 743 yards. But Kirchmeyer had his first two passes batted down by Burnette and Tomerlin, and Burnette sacked him for a 12-yard loss on his third attempt. It didn’t get much better for Kirchmeyer, who finished 9 of 17 for 68 yards with an interception. He was sacked three times.

Most of El Toro’s yardage came on the ground. Halfback Nick Walsh had 112 yards in 14 carries.

San Clemente (6-1, 2-0) had been using a three-man defensive front, but Friday night the Tritons came out in a four-man front. Opponents might never see the three-man formation again.

Tomerlin and Burnette spent almost the entire game in the El Toro backfield, batting down passes, forcing Kirchmeyer into quick throws or hammering a ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. Burnette also did some damage on offense, catching three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.

“We tried a three-step drop, but we even got those batted down,” El Toro Coach Mike Milner said. “We knew coming in they had the league’s best-rated defense. They proved it to me.”

Sophomore Matt Mitchell started at quarterback for San Clemente and directed an 88-yard touchdown drive in seven plays, all runs. Smith scored on a 40-yard run.

Beau Budde, who had missed two games with an ankle injury, entered late in the first quarter and played much of the game. He led the Tritons on an 80-yard scoring drive in six plays in the second quarter. Smith (169 yards, 17 carries) keyed the drive with another 40-yard run. Colin Mahoney, who left in the third quarter with a possible broken collarbone, scored on a six-yard run.

In the second quarter, El Toro junior running back Sean Abbott was taken off the field in an ambulance after being hit by Tomerlin behind the line of scrimmage. Milner said Abbott complained of a tingling sensation in his spine and legs. Abbott was taken to Mission Viejo Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.