San Clemente Holds on Tight

San Clemente High defensive back Craig Miller didn’t let a second chance slip through his hands.

Two plays after dropping a potential interception, Miller caught a second pass thrown his way in the closing minutes of a Division II quarterfinal game Friday against Compton Dominguez, helping the Tritons hold on to a 28-14 victory at San Clemente.

San Clemente advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1979.

Miller made the interception in the end zone with the Tritons clinging to a 21-14 lead. Dominguez had moved the ball to the two after a 38-yard run by quarterback Justin Wyatt, one play after Miller dropped the potential interception.

“I told myself that would never happen again,” Miller said of the drop.

But the Tritons got a break when Dominguez was called for penalties on consecutive plays, moving the ball back to the 11.

Two plays later, on fourth and goal, Miller intercepted Wyatt’s pass and returned it 84 yards to the Don 17 with 3:29 remaining.

Miller also caught two touchdown passes and blocked an extra-point attempt. His second touchdown came with 11:24 remaining in the game and gave San Clemente a 21-14 lead.

After Miller’s interception, sophomore running back Cheyne Verhagen scored on a six-yard touchdown run for a 28-14 lead with 1:32 remaining.

“I was very happy when Dominguez started throwing the ball,” said San Clemente Coach Eric Patton. “It seemed like an admission that they couldn’t run the ball against us.”

The Tritons led, 14-6, at the half after answering a touchdown by Dominguez on its opening drive with two of its own.

Dominguez took a 6-0 lead after moving 62 yards in 11 plays and scoring on a nine-yard run by running back Tim Mixon.

San Clemente went 72 yards in 10 plays on its first drive and scored on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Beau Budde to Craig Miller. Budde lofted the pass toward the corner of the end zone and Miller made an over-the-shoulder grab.

Miller’s brother, Chris Miller, had three receptions in the drive for 46 yards.

The Tritons couldn’t take advantage of a fumble by Wyatt at the Dominguez 41, but they scored later in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead.

The drive began with consecutive sacks by Dominguez, but Budde then hit Mike Pearson with a 23-yard reception to the 36.

A pass interference penalty on Dominguez in the end zone put the ball at the nine-yard line, and Verhagen scored two plays later on a three-yard run.