San Clemente Times August 12-18, 2021
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Back to Business SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RELISHES RETURN TO FULL SCHEDULE, OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE
San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz addresses the Tritons and wears a shirt honoring late Tritons assistant coach Joe Wood, who died after a battle with COVID-19 in February. Photo: Zach Cavanagh
BY ZACH CAVANAGH
J
ust four months later, and the Tritons are right back at it. After experiencing the longest and shortest football season that hopefully anyone will ever experience, the San Clemente High School football team is nall on the true track o nor alc . The 2020 CIF-SS football season was delayed three separate times due to the corona irus an e ic rst until ece ber
San Clemente Times August 12-18, 2021
then to anuar an then in e nitel before its eventual March 2021 start. he season as shortene to ust e a es but at the time, each new announcement and each ste back to the el as calle the ne t step in the return to normalcy. Each game was heralded as a blessing to even be playing at all, even if it was still far from normal. “Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it,” San Clemente football coach Jaime Ortiz said. “For our kids, parents, booster club, it made you realize how great this game is on a Friday night, when you’re missing the snack bar, you’re missing the live crowd, you’re missin the li e ban an e er thin ith that ou
realize how important that is and how special that is.” The Tritons made the absolute most of their opportunity. San Clemente went 5-0, carved up the South Coast League and shut down and upset rival Mission Viejo for the second time in three seasons to earn its second league championship in the same span. “Nothing was guaranteed last year, and for our kids to go through that and come out on top, that’s a cool thing,” Ortiz said. “That’s character instillment that’s going to help this year, but also in life.” he all season nall o ers that true return to normal with a regular start date
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and a regular 10-game schedule. Also, for those many returners from last year’s league cha ion this season o ers that uch ore a chance to return to the la o s an co ete for a CIF championship. “The team we had last year, we really felt if we had the opportunity to go all the way, we would’ve gone 10-0, we would’ve gone to a CIF championship,” senior quarterback Lachlan Van Rosmalen said. “We felt like last year, we were cut short of our full potential, and that s ut a re in so e la ers to sho tea s even though last year we were great, this year we’re even better.” (Continued) sanclementetimes.com
Back to Business (Continued)
BALANCED, BLUE-COLLAR OFFENSE It’s hard to say that a team would be improved by losing the MVP running back that tore through the South Coast League and pulled the Tritons to a championship, but the graduation loss of James Bohls to University of Arizona slots in a dynamic, pass-catching running back in junior Blake Allen, who puts the Tritons on the road to balance. Allen was all-league at strong safety as a sophomore, but the rugby player will not get the majority of the load at running back. Allen will be in the backfield with Van Rosmalen, who has a complement of strong wide receivers to make the San Clemente offense an equal-opportunity unit. Senior Easton Cattiach and junior Reid Kontiranta got plenty of meaningful snaps at receiver last season to bring experience to the position. With Bohls as the focus last season, the Tritons and their offensive line developed a blue-collar work ethic that will also be beneficial this season. The line will be led by seniors Michael Alejo, Tanner Mehrens and Myles Wire, plus junior Colin Brophy.
YOUNG, BUT EXPERIENCED DEFENSE San Clemente’s defense has long been a reliable unit and will continue to be a rock for the Tritons, despite graduation losses up front and a younger group overall. Where San Clemente does have experience is in the secondary, where the Tritons bring back a trio of defensive backs who all started as sophomores against Mission Viejo in the spring and shut down the Diablos’ explosive offense. Junior Cole Robertson and Mehrens will be impact players up front for San Clemente and get that necessary pressure in the trenches. In the past, San Clemente’s defense had also been known as a group of ball-hawkers, but that was something that lacked from last season’s performance. Ortiz acknowledged that as one area that needed improvement for the Tritons.
PLAYOFFS? San Clemente’s path to the playoffs this season is both slightly easier than previous seasons and also more convoluted than ever before with the advent of yet another tweak to CIF-SS’ competitive equity playoff system. When the competitive equity system was
(L to R) Tanner Mehrens, Michael Alejo, Lachlan Van Rosmalen, Easton Cattiach and Jack Demora represent a battle-tested senior leadership group that a young Tritons team will lean on. Photo: Zach Cavanagh
first put into place five seasons ago, teams were slotted into divisions based on data from the two previous seasons. That system was eventually tweaked at the top to make a Division 1 & 2 grouping, in which all teams would make the playoffs no matter what and played the season essentially for seeding purposes. On the whole, the competitive equity helped eliminate the first-round blowouts seen in the old system and seemingly gave ev-
eryone an equal shot at a CIF-SS title. However, over time, some inequities began to show. The divisions didn’t all have the same number of teams, but the number of playoff teams was locked, meaning it was easier to make the playoffs in some divisions than others. Additionally, teams could have two great seasons with a strong senior class that would put them in a higher division. Injuries and graduation losses would hit the following
class, and despite having a weaker team, they would be stuck in the higher division. There were also instances of historically bad teams getting an influx of talent or transfers and running roughshod over a lower division. To specifically address the last point and help with the inequity of the number of teams in some divisions, the latest tweak was passed by the CIF-SS and was originally slated to start last season. During the season, there will be a constantly updated points system and power rankings by CIF-SS and calpreps.com, and teams will not be assigned a playoff division until after the season. Once the season-end power rankings are made, there will be 12 or 13 automatic qualifiers assigned to each of the 14 divisions, and at-large teams from the power rankings will be used to fill out the full 16-team bracket. The brackets will also be seeded straight No. 1-16, with no regard for league affiliations or league championships. In the past, league champions were guaranteed a first-round home game, and two teams from the same league couldn’t meet in the first round. San Clemente was affected by the first stipulation in 2019, when, as a No. 2 seed, the Tritons traveled to Valencia. On the surface, this looks to be another step to complete equity by basing on the current season and not handing out any immediate disadvantages. Some detractors have pointed out it could be a single point in the rankings that is the difference between being a No. 16 seed in a higher division or being a No. 1 seed in the next division down. However, the season still needs to play out to see if teams could or would try to control that destiny, or if this is truly an issue at all. Ortiz is a proponent of this new model, but the San Clemente coach isn’t going to be one to worry about the Tritons’ place week to week. “When the playoffs come, I’ll worry about the playoffs,” Ortiz said. “For me, it’s focusing on each game. If we’re 10-0 and we’re in the top eight, then we’re in the top eight, we’d deserve to be there. That’s something I can’t control. I can control each week, and I know the more we improve each week and the more wins we get, the better chance we’ll be in a better playoff bracket.” No matter where the Tritons eventually get slotted, should they make the playoffs as a repeat league champion or as an at-large team, San Clemente will cherish each opportunity it has to get on the field and make the absolute most of it.
San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz (left) expects the Tritons offense to be much more balanced with a bevy of talented receivers including Easton Cattiach (middle) and a blue-collar offensive line led by Michael Alejo (right). Photos: Zach Cavanagh
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GAME PREVIEWS BY ZACH CAVANAGH
GAME 1 // AUGUST 20
GAME 2 // AUGUST 27
GAME 3 // SEPTEMBER 3
GAME 4 // SEPTEMBER 10
VS. OCEANSIDE
VS. TORREY PINES
VS. LA COSTA CANYON
VS. CORONA DEL MAR 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
7 P.M. AT HUNTINGTON BEACH HS
Coach: Dave Rodriguez 2020 Record: 0-3 (0-3 Avocado League) 2019 vs. SC: SC win, 35-13 Season Outlook: After a one-year hiatus due to the delay of the season and restrictions of inter-county play due to the pandemic, the Battle of the Base returns, as the Pirates drive up the 5 to the north side of Camp Pendleton. San Clemente has won three of the four matchups between the two schools dating back to the start of the series in 2016. he tea ceansi e el e in the spring is almost completely gone, as the Pirates were full of impact seniors at all their major positions.
Coach: Ron Gladnick 2020 Record: 3-3 (3-2 Avocado League) 2019 vs. SC: SC win, 31-7 Season Outlook: San Clemente maintains its early nonleague schedule against San Diego County’s elite Avocado League with another matchup against Torrey Pines. The Falcons continue to employ the in o ense in an e ort to control the game on the ground, and even in a pandemic season, Torrey Pines expertly executed it. The Falcons graduated their featured back, but with options of returning quarterbacks and a well-oiled program under coach Rod Gladnick, Torrey Pines should be more than capable this fall. The Falcons will be a fantastic test for San Clemente’s defensive swarm.
Coach: Sean Sovacool 2020 Record: 2-4 (1-4 Avocado League) 2019 vs. SC: SC win, 13-12 Season Outlook: San Clemente will head south once more to take on the Mavericks of La Costa Canyon. The Tritons and Mavericks have had a couple tightly contested and wild matchups in recent years, including a 38-35 win by La Costa Canyon at San Clemente in 2019 and a 13-12 win by San Clemente in Carlsbad in 2019. The Tritons will get a gauge for La Costa Canyon early, as the Mavericks take on another South Coast League squad in Tesoro in their season opener on Aug. 20.
Coach: Dan O’Shea 2020 Record: 4-2 (3-2 Sunset League) 2019 vs. SC: CdM win, 42-21 Season Outlook: After their San Diego tour, the Tritons turn their attention to rivalries they’ve cultivated among the Orange County beach cities. San Clemente renews its series with Corona del Mar, and the Sea Kings bring back some youth with experience from the spring. Corona del Mar returns its quarterback and top running back, who both put up impressive numbers as sophomores. Quarterback David Rasor completed 57% of his passes for 1,035 yards and 15 touchdowns in only six games. Running back Evan Sanders ran or ar s an e s.
Coach: e Gra 2020 Record: 5-1 (4-1 Sunset League) 2019 vs. SC: SC win, 28-21 Season Outlook: San Clemente and Edison have played a stretch of extremely competitive matchups since this series began in the 2016 state regionals. The Tritons and Chargers have played each of the past four full seasons, and all four games have been one-score games with an average margin of victory of just more than four points. San Clemente has won all four games. Edison graduated seniors from all of its major positions, except for leading receiver Nico Brown, who caught 40 passes for 664 yards and eight touchdowns in the spring season.
GAME 6 // SEPTEMBER 24
GAME 7 // OCTOBER 1
GAME 8 // OCTOBER 15
GAME 9 // OCTOBER 22
GAME 10 // OCTOBER 29
7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
VS. MURRIETA VALLEY
7 P.M. AT TORREY PINES HS
7 P.M. AT LA COSTA CANYON HS
GAME 5 // SEPTEMBER 17
VS. EDISON
7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
VS. LOYOLA (LA)
VS. SAN JUAN HILLS 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS
VS. TESORO
VS. MISSION VIEJO
Coach: George Wilson 2020 Record: 3-2 (3-2 Southwestern League) 2019 vs. SC: Did not play Season Outlook: While San Clemente and Murrieta Valley did not play in 2019, the two have still met four times since the 2016 season. Including the 2016 CIF-SS championship game, the Tritons and Nighthawks have met twice in the regular season and twice in the playo s. an le ente has on three o those contests, including the 2016 CIF-SS title game and 2018 CIF-SS rst roun a e. Murrieta Valley returns Utah-committed quarterback Brandon Rose, who completed nearly 70% of his passes for 1,415 yards and 12 toucho ns in e a es last season.
Coach: Drew Casani 2020 Record: 3-0 (2-0 Angelus League) 2019 vs. SC: Did not play Season Outlook: San Clemente’s nal nonlea ue contest be ore a pre-league bye week is Loyola of Los Angeles. Loyola is a private school and is the oldest continuously run school in Southern California. Loyola’s last game against an Orange County opponent came in the 2019 CIF-SS Division 4 title game, in which the Cubs hosted San Juan ills. he tallions on their rst CIF-SS title that night, 21-15. Loyola graduated the quarterback that started that CIF-SS title game after the spring season, but the Cubs do return their top running back from last season.
Coach: Rob Frith 2020 Record: 2-3 (0-3 South Coast League) 2020 vs. SC: SC win, 35-7 Season Outlook: San Juan Hills made its return to the South Coast League last season following the tallions rst e er title in 2019, but it was tough sledding. San Clemente’s South Coast League MVP James Bohls put up his signature performance of the spring season at San Juan Hills with three touchdowns and 177 yards on 16 carries. This fall, San Juan Hills will likely start junior Colton Joseph at quarterback. Joseph transferred from San Clemente after his freshman season and is the younger brother of former Tritons quarterback and golfer, Drayton Joseph.
Coach: Matt Poston 2020 Record: 3-2 (1-2 South Coast League) 2020 vs. SC: SC win, 35-17 Season Outlook: Tesoro acquitted itself nicely for all that the 2020-21 football season was. The Titans were more than enough for their Sea View League crossover games, hung tough with the top two of the South Coast League and ended with a dramatic one-point win over San Juan Hills in their “Battle for the Bell” rivalry. esoro loses so e o ensi e re o er but the itans return their top rusher in Lucas Pesak and a top receiver in Mason Wolfe. Pesak was a force with 517 yards and four touchdowns on 106 carries.
Coach: Chad Johnson 2020 Record: 4-1 (2-1 South Coast League) 2020 vs. SC: SC win, 10-7 Season Outlook: The biggest game only got bigger, as once again the Tritons took down Mission Viejo for the South Coast League title. After a dominant stretch by the Diablos that began in 1999, San Clemente has broken through in two of the past three seasons, which sticks in the craw of Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo boasted an explosi e o ense last season that the Tritons shut down. It’ll be another tough task this season, as the Diablos return their starting quarterback (junior Kadin Semonza) and top rusher and top receiver (junior Mikey Matthews).
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7 P.M. AT MISSION VIEJO HS
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PLAYERS TO WATCH // BY ZACH CAVANAGH
Five to Watch OFFENSE
MICHAEL ALEJO OL, Sr.
BLAKE ALLEN RB, Jr.
THOMAS HARTANOV WR, Jr.
EASTON CATTIACH WR, Sr.
LACHLAN VAN ROSMALEN QB, Sr.
As San Clemente tore up the South Coast League on the ground, the Tritons’ line carved open those running lanes. While that line loses some impact seniors, Alejo is one who returns from that group. Alejo is con ent in the rou u ront and said everyone knows and embraces their role.
In the spring, San Clemente was paced by an MVP performance from then-senior running back James Bohls. Blake Allen steps into that position as a more all-purpose back than a straight-ahead runner. Allen makes the Tritons more dynamic by catchin the ball out o the back el and using his speed.
Part of an athletic San Clemente High School family, Thomas Hartanov is one of many speedy members of the Tritons receiving corps. Hartanov didn’t see much of the el as a so ho ore but he s a shifty receiver playing on the inside ho can shake o linebackers an n o en s ace.
Coming on as a surprise in the spring, Easton Cattiach is the leading returning receiver for the Tritons. Cattiach had eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown last season, and he will be relied on as the deep threat for San Clemente. Look for contested catches and yards after catch.
Lachlan Van Rosmalen worked on his deep ball accuracy over the o season an that ill be ke in a more dynamic passing attack and ore e uall balance o ense a ter a run-dominated spring. Van Rosalen also sai he s ore con ent in his reads and quicker to see what the defense gives him.
Triton Training Camp Talk
“I think that league championship made us more hungry for the next season. Five games wasn’t enough. We want to be 10-0 and try to win state.” – SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MICHAEL ALEJO
“I FEEL LIKE AFTER LAST SEASON, WITH HOW TIGHT EVERYBODY BECAME, EVERYBODY IS JUST SO EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO THE SEASON … I DON’T THINK THERE’S A TEAM MORE EXCITED TO PLAY 10 GAMES AND GET BACK OUT THERE WITH FANS.” – SENIOR QUARTERBACK LACHLAN VAN ROSMALEN San Clemente Times August 12-18, 2021
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Five to Watch DEFENSE
JACK DEMORA DL, Sr.
BRAD GERKEN FS, Jr.
REESE McDONALD OLB, Jr.
TANNER MEHRENS DL, Sr.
COLE ROBERTSON MLB, Jr.
Jack Demora is a physical leader on the defensive front. Demora himself says he loves playing at nose guard, because he likes to get hit around, loves the action and enjoys being in the trenches. In the spring, Demora made 18 tackles for the Tritons, including 10 solo tackles.
Brad Gerken is one of several younger underclassmen for San Clemente’s defensive unit who is ready to make an impact after meaningful snaps as a sophomore in the spring. Last season, Gerken pulled in an interception and recorded 12 total tackles. Gerken flies to the ball out of the secondary.
On the edge of the front seven, Reese McDonald was already a key member of the Tritons’ defense as a sophomore last season. McDonald was sixth on the team in total tackles in the spring with 26, the most by any non-senior. McDonald contains the run and rushes the passer.
In the trenches on both sides of the ball, Tanner Mehrens will make his presence known with his length and strength. Mehrens said his mentality is to go through people, dominate them, be physical and put people on the ground. Mehrens made six tackles as a junior in the spring.
While Cole Robertson’s older brother, Caiden, led the Tritons in tackles a year ago, Cole made a name for himself in the front seven as well, and he steps up as a defensive leader this season. Robertson racked up three sacks last season, including two against Mission Viejo, with nine total tackles.
“WE’RE A SUPER CLOSE GROUP. WE’VE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE WE WERE LITTLE, SO I THINK WE’RE GOING TO BE A REAL TIGHT FAMILY, AND THAT WILL HELP IN THE GAME.” – JUNIOR RUNNING BACK BLAKE ALLEN
“We’ve got unfinished business. We got a season cut short, and we as a team felt like we could’ve gone a lot further. I think we’ve got something to prove this year.”
“I FEEL LIKE WE’RE ALL BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL SEASON THIS TIME, NOT JUST FIVE GAMES. WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH FOOTBALL IN AS SENIORS BEFORE IT’S OUR TIME.”
– SENIOR OFFENSIVE
– SENIOR EFENSIVE LINEMAN JAC
San Clemente Times August 12-18, 2021
EFENSIVE LINEMAN ANNER MEHRENS
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EMORA
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