2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TRITON sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times August 11-17, 2022 Page 13 YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: GAME PREVIEWS, KEYANDPLAYERSMORE!
OLD NEWHANDSGOALS
BY ZACH CAVANAGH
San Clemente High School football boasts its most experience in years, as the Tritons eye a return to league and playoff glory
The San Clemente football team is loaded with experienced seniors, including a handful who have been contributing members of the Tritons since their sophomore seasons. Photo: Keaton Larson
sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times August 11-17, 2022 Page 14
—Coach Jaime Ortiz
RETURNING SKILL, NEW QUARTERBACKS
The Tritons have two options to fill the most high-profile position at Sam Darnold High in a pair of junior quarterbacks: Broderick Redden and Dylan Mills. Redden is a family name familiar to San Clemente football fans, as his brother, Bentley Redden, was a tight end for the Tritons, graduated in 2021 and signed with BYU. Broderick has had success as a young Triton signal-caller with a 4-1 freshman record and a 7-3 record and league championship for the junior varsity last year. Mills may also be familiar to anyone who follows Orange County high school football, as he is a transfer from JSerra. In split action (Continued)
“This year, our kids want to be great. You see it in these seniors that have a lot of experience. They want to take that next step.”
While San Clemente head coach Jaime Ortiz hasn’t harped on the specific loss himself, the resulting attitude expressed by Kotiranta and the players is a sentiment shared by Ortiz. While these seniors have seen success, there is still more to achieve, such as reclaiming the South Coast League title or playing for San Clemente’s second CIF-SS title. “The evil of great is good,” Ortiz said. “How do we take that next step and play for a league championship, have an opportunity to make our mark in the playoffs? For our kids, last year we were good, not great. This year, our kids want to be great. You see it in these seniors that have a lot of experience. They want to take that next step.” Additionally, and while this applies to everybody, the high school football world is completely back on normal ground. While there was a full 10-game season last year, it was a season that took place just four months after the previous delayed season, and the regular season still dealt with cancellations and late schedule changes. This season, teams were able to hold spring football and run through the regular rhythm of summer workouts and passing league events. Now, high school football players across Southern California are fully prepped and ready to go for another run under the Friday Night Lights. FEATURES
Last season, the Tritons had only one senior among the outside offensive skill positions. Allen is a dynamic two-way player and was the leading rusher and offensive MVP for San Cle mente last season with 779 yards and seven touchdowns on 162 carries. Senior Thomas Hartanov was Tritons’ leading receiver with 385 yards and four touchdowns on 40 recep tions and second-leading rusher. Hartanov will line up in the slot as a receiver and still get carries in the backfield. Senior Reid Kotiranta was the third-leading receiver for San Clemente with 378 yards on 37 catches and a touchdown. He’ll be a leading threat on the outside with juniors Brock Della Vedova, Drew Shanley and Jake Poole. Senior Mason Old returns to line up at tight end. The offensive line is shored up with senior left tackle Colin Brophy, junior right tackle Connor Bachhuber and junior guard Ben Bak er. It’s a strong front committed to opening up more lanes for Allen to burst through. This deep into the offensive section with no mention of who will actually be throwing to all this skill and protected by the beef up front. Strange, isn’t it?
sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times August 11-17, 2022 Page 15 This is as experienced of a team that the San Clemente High School football program has seen in a long time. Maybe not necessarily by the number of returning starters—of which there are 15—or even in the total number of seniors. But the number of collective varsity games played by this senior class might be the most the Tritons have ever had. San Clemente football teams usually have an advantage that their peers don’t in terms of sheer familiarity of the roster, as many play ers in the program have played together as Tritons since their days in youth football. “One Town, One Team,” and all. However, not many have had this sort of tenure at the varsity level. t least six Triton seniors, including five on the defensive side of the ball, earned reps as sophomores during the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season. Players such as running back and safety Blake Allen and safety Brad Gerken have been impact players in each of their two previous varsity seasons, and it’s that level and breadth of experience that position this San Clemente team as a formidable one. “It brings a brotherhood and a chemistry between us,” Gerken said. “We kind of know what everyone is thinking at the same time. I won’t have to tell my other players what they’re doing, because we’ve been together. We’ve got everything down.”
It’s not empty experience, either. These seniors have been quite successful in their San Cle mente careers. They were 9-1 as freshmen, and then on varsity, the Tritons went 5-0 for a South Coast League championship in their shortened and delayed sophomore season. San Clemente went 7-3 last season and earned a No. 4 seed in the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. However, it’s the last game that has lingered for the senior class. Last November, the Tritons were up by 21 points at halftime at home in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs. However, despite eliminating Roosevelt of Eastvale’s passing attack through three quarters, the Mustangs came alive in the air in the fourth quarter to take advantage of turn overs and score 21 points, including the go-ahead score with less than 30 seconds remaining. What looked like a cruise to the second round ended up in disaster and a dramatic first-round elimination. “It stuck with us,” senior receiver Reid Kotiranta said. “I don’t think a practice goes by where we’re not reminded of it and how hungry we are. Coach (Jaime Ortiz) talked about it at the end of practice, where we have to be hungry instead of happy. We all want to see improvement from last season.”
OFFENSE
A
The San Clemente football team is loaded with experienced seniors, including a handful that have been contributing members of the Tritons since their sophomore seasons. Photo: Keaton Larson over six games last season at JSerra, Mills completed 44 of 90 passes for 430 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Mills also ran for two scores. Ortiz said the competition was even through the summer and passing league. Redden may open the season as the starter by default, as Mills’ transfer paperwork gets pro cessed with a possible sit-out period. Until an official decision is made, the two continue to push each other and make it a tough choice when both are available. “Broderick and Dylan have pushed each other all spring and summer, but they also have a good relationship,” Ortiz said. “They’re competing, but they also know they’re doing what’s best for the team. For our kids, both Broderick and Dylan have had opportunities for throwing sessions and things like that. Both guys have stepped up into a leadership role.”Whoever assumes the mantle, they’ll have plenty of weapons to try and move the San Clemente offense that sometimes had trouble staying on the field last season to one with dynamic potential.
San Clemente’s offense features returners at every position, except at its most marquee slot.
DEFENSE BRINGS EXPERIENCED HAMMER IN SECONDARY
While the offense always grabs the head lines, it’s the defense that has always been the heart of San Clemente’s success. That’s no different this year, with an experienced secondary leading the way. “We’ve always been a defense-first football team. That’s where it starts and ends. Defense
sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times August 11-17, 2022 Page 16 wins championships,” said Ortiz, who runs the defense. The Tritons return five of their top six tacklers from last season, including defensive MVP Cole Robertson. Robertson, a senior linebacker, led the Tritons with 105 total tackles and was second on the team with three sacks. Gerken was second on the team in tackles at safety with 65. Senior linebacker Nolan Reid was third in tackles with 58, including a team-high five tackles for loss. Other defensive players returning include linebacker Kyle Yamano and Insley and Shanley at cornerback. Shanley was the only player with multiple intercep tions last season with four picks. Gerken and Poole were the other players with intercep tions last season. Triton defenses are usually labeled as ball hawks, and that should be no different this season with that secondary patrolling. If San Clemente is to beat Mission Viejo, it will rely on that secondary to shut down the passing attack, as it has each of the past two times the Diablos have traveled to Thalassa Stadium.
LEAGUE SCHEDULE SHAKEUP
It’s that big showdown with Mission Viejo that anyone circles on the San Clemente schedule, but this year, with the rotation of the South Coast and Sea View League lineups, that game isn’t the ultimate matchup. For the first time since the Tritons returned to the South Coast League in 2016 after a brief Sea View League stint, Mission Viejo v. San Clemente will not be the final game of the season. It always worked out great, because with those two teams as the powerhouses of the league, the season always built up to a league title clash to close the regular season. This season, the two teams will meet in the first game of the league schedule on Oct. 14. San Clemente finally broke Mission Viejo’s ironclad grip on the South Coast League with a drama-filled comeback in 2018 at Thalassa Stadium, which was the Tritons’ first win over the Diablos since 1999. Mission Viejo re sponded with a 32-point win at home in 2019, but the Tritons struck back with another thrill ing win on a late field goal in San Clemente in April 2021. Mission Viejo again exacted its revenge with a 45-0 win at home last season. Now, San Clemente gets the opportunity to defend its home turf again, but the Diablos might be more loaded up than either of the two previous trips south. “They’ve got enough kids coming back that they’re going to be a very good contend er,” Ortiz said. “In order to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. This year, with our seniors and their seniors, it’ll be a good game, and we’ll see where things settle out.” Despite the earlier date, the stakes will likely be the same, with the winner probably moving on to take the South Coast League title.Capistrano Valley returns to the South Coast League, and despite a talented quarter back coming back, the Cougars will probably slot into last place. The team that could still upset the apple cart for San Clemente or Mission Viejo is Tesoro. The Titans will be much improved, have solidified their own quarterback spot and have plenty of history with both the Tritons and Diablos. For the playoffs, the CIF-SS enters the second season of its in-season, power-rank ing-determined playoff format. Playoff divisions will again be decided after the season by the algorithm of calpreps.com, which is updated each week with the latest results. Last season, Mission Viejo slotted into Division 1, and San Clemente slipped down to Division 3. When games ended on that final Friday of last season, many, including Ortiz, figured San Clemente would hold on to one of the final Division 2 spots. However, when the rankings were updated overnight into Satur day morning, the Tritons ended up as a high seed in Division 3 instead. It’s a bit of calculus on which Ortiz no longer focuses. “When I was younger, when Eric Patton was the head coach here, I used to try and make a chart and find out who the bracket was going to be and who we’re playing,” Ortiz said. “Every time, I learn to focus on the important things and let it all play out like it’s supposed to.” San Clemente can’t figure any of that out in August.There’splenty for the Tritons to accomplish in the next three months, and it kicks off on Aug. 19 at Oceanside High School. (Continued) San Clemente returns nearly all of its skill players on offense, but the Tritons will be helmed by a new quarterback with eyes toward a more dynamic attack. Photos: Keaton Larson
Coach: Matt Poston 2021 Record: 2-8 (0-3 Sea View League) 2021 vs. SC: SC win, 49-35 Season Outlook: Tesoro kept its spot in the South Coast League, if just barely. At the league meeting, it came down to a tiebreaker with San Juan Hills, and Tesoro earned its spot with a better combined freshman and junior varsity record. Does that mean Tesoro is toast again? No, because they at least have Capistrano Valley to play, and they’ll have better quarterback play this season. Last season, the Titans split their QB time, but they’re going to commit to a starter this season. San Clemente has won its past six against Tesoro.
Coach: Sean Sovacool 2021 Record: 5-6 (3-3 Avocado League) 2021 vs. SC: SC win, 13-6 Season Outlook: San Clemente’s opening San Diego County/ Avocado League tour concludes against La Costa Canyon, and if history between the two teams is any gauge, buckle up. The last four matchups between the two schools have been decided by one score, including two straight San Clem ente wins. Last season, the Tritons were held scoreless until the fourth quarter, when they scored in the first minute and the final minute to take the win. La Costa Canyon once again opens with San Clemente’s South Coast League colleague Tesoro.
SAN CLEMENTE GAME PREVIEWS 2022 VS. OCEANSIDE 7 P.M. AT OCEANSIDE HS VS. MURRIETA VALLEY 7 P.M. AT MURRIETA VALLEY HS VS. TORREY PINES 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS VS. STEELE CANYON 7 P.M. AT STEELE CANYON HS VS. LA COSTA CANYON 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS VS. MISSION VIEJO 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS VS. CORONA DEL MAR 7 P.M. AT NEWPORT HARBOR HS VS. CAPISTRANO VALLEY 7 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE HS VS. EDISON 7 P.M. AT HUNTINGTON BEACH HS VS. TESORO 7 P.M. AT TESORO HS GAME 1 GAME 6 GAME 2 GAME 7 GAME 3 GAME 8 GAME 4 GAME 9 GAME 5 GAME 10 AUGUST SEPTEMBER1923 AUGUST SEPTEMBER2630 SEPTEMBER 2 OCTOBER 14 SEPTEMBER 9 OCTOBER 21 SEPTEMBER 16 OCTOBER 28 BY ZACH CAVANAGH
Coach: Chad Johnson 2021 Record: 9-2 (3-0 South Coast League) 2021 vs. SC: MV win, 45-0 Season Outlook: Old foes meet again, but this time to open league play instead of clos ing out the season. San Clemente and Mission Viejo have split the past four match-ups, with each team winning on its home turf. The Tritons have won in tight thrillers, while the Diablos have rolled in dull blowouts. Will Thalassa Stadium bring magic again? Mission Viejo is being built up as a public-school Death Star with all of their explo sive passing stars returning. The Diablos lost their top rusher and several key defenders, but, of course, they always reload.
Coach: Dave Rodriguez 2021 Record: 4-7 (1-5 Avocado League) 2021 vs. SC: SC win, 34-0 Season Outlook: Oceanside graduated all of its top offensive and defensive contributors after a disappointing campaign. However, the Pirates are never too short on talent and are reloaded for the sixth installment of the Battle of the Base. San Clemente has won four of the five matchups between the two Camp Pendleton-adjacent schools since 2016 with the only loss coming in 2016. Oceanside will be led offensively by sophomore quar terback Andrew Miller and junior running back Georgie Nua. Nua ran for 212 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries last season.
Coach: Robby Collins 2021 Record: 6-4 (4-2 Avocado League) 2021 vs. SC: TP canceled, COVID Season Outlook: Torrey Pines will have a new coach at the helm in Robby Collins, but old-school football fans need not worry. The Falcons will still roll into San Clemente with their trademark Wing-T offense. Collins had been the offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons under former coach Rod Gladnick, who left for St. Augustine in San Diego. Due to the COVID pandemic and last season’s COVID cancellation, Torrey Pines and San Clemente haven’t faced off since 2019, when the Tritons clob bered the Falcons in San Clemente, 31-7.
Coach: Dan O’Shea 2021 Record: 9-3 (3-2 Sunset League) 2021 vs. SC: CdM win, 7-3 Season Outlook: Normally, the Battle for the Trident (not what it’s called, but it should be) has been an offensively exciting affair, and despite the hype entering last sea son’s edition, the two teams played out the textbook defensive battle. The Sea Kings ground out the win, 7-3, last season, but despite that and Corona del Mar graduating its top receivers, don’t look for this year’s matchup to play out the same way. Corona del Mar returns its UC Davis-committed quarter back David Rasor, who threw for 34 touchdowns and 2,365 yards last season.
Coach: Jeff Grady 2021 Record: 8-4 (4-1 Sunset League) 2021 vs. SC: Edison win, 42-0 Season Outlook: Aside from a sea son-opening blowout to Servite last season, Edison either won in a rout or lost by just a handful of points. One of those routs was over San Clemente, in a 42-0 game in which nothing went right for the Tritons. Although it was a big margin and the Chargers had four rushing touchdowns, Edison only had 93 yards rushing. Three interceptions and a 97-yard fumble return didn’t help, though. Luckily for San Clem ente, Edison graduated its leading rusher, but its quarterback and some top receivers return.
Coach: Scott Longerbone 2021 Record: 3-8 (2-1 Grossmont Hills League) 2021 vs. SC: N/A, First Meeting Season Outlook: San Clemente closes out its nonleague schedule with a new face and another trip down to San Diego County to meet the Steele Canyon Cougars. Just inland from downtown San Diego, Steele Canyon is a team that com mits to the run game, which should be a good physical test for the Tri tons heading into their bye week. Steele Canyon returns its leading rusher from last season in senior running back Major Givens, who carried the ball 276 times for 1,516 yards and 12 touchdowns. Expect limited throws from whomever is under center.
Coach: George Wilson 2021 Record: 7-4 (5-0 Southwestern League) 2021 vs. SC: SC win, 21-20 Season Outlook: Ever since the Tri tons beat Murrieta Valley for their only CIF-SS title in 2016, the Night hawks have become an entertain ing fixture on the San Clemente schedule. Last season’s clash was somehow the lowest-scoring entry in the series, and even then, there was plenty of drama to be had, as the Tritons blocked a field goal attempt as time expired to capture the one-point win. Leading the Nighthawks this season are a pair of Bachmeiers: sophomore quar terback Bear and senior receiver Tiger. They are brothers of former quarterback Hank.
Coach: Sean Curtis 2021 Record: 6-5 (2-1 Sea View League) 2021 vs. SC: Did Not Play Season Outlook: Capistrano Valley returns to the South Coast League after a brief hiatus, and it may not be a warm welcome. Since 2004, Capistrano Valley is a combined 1-25 against the other three South Coast League teams: San Clemente (0-12), Mission Viejo (0-8) and Tesoro (1-5). The one win against Tesoro came in their first-ever meeting in 2006. The Cougars’ chance at competing rests on the shoulders of senior quarterback Trey Kukuk, who threw for 3,327 yards and 33 touchdowns and ran for another 830 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
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REID KOTIRANTA WR, Sr. Kotiranta is one of San Clemente’s most dangerous outside threats. Kotiranta was second on the team in receptions last season with 37 catches for 378 yards and a touchdown. Kotiranta is one of the Tritons’ three-year varsity players, who will help pace the bevy of experienced skill players on the roster.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH OFFENSE
CONNOR BACHHUBER RT, Jr. Bachhuber is a multi-faceted line man for San Clemente. The 6-foot5, 240-pound junior will play in all phases of the game for the Tritons. Bachhuber will play right tackle on offense, get snaps as a defensive end and also make the long snaps on the San Clemente special teams units.
COLIN BROPHY LT, Sr. Brophy is the veteran for the San Clemente beef up front. Brophy lines up at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and will protect the blind side for the Triton quarterback who takes the reins. Brophy said the most important thing for the Tritons is to trust each other, and that starts with the offensive line.
BLAKE ALLEN RB, Sr. Allen may be the most dynamic offensive threat the Tritons have. Allen was San Clemente’s offensive MVP last season with 779 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 162 carries. Allen also caught 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. If the holes get opened, Allen has the burst speed to blaze through. CAVANAGH
THOMAS HARTANOV WR/RB, Sr. Hartanov is a versatile skill player for San Clemente. He led the Tritons in both receptions (40) and receiving yards (385) last season with five touchdown catches. Hartanov was also the secondleading rusher with 218 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries. A more physical Hartanov will mostly line up in the slot.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT 1 2 3 4 5
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH
NOLAN REID LB, Sr. Reid joins the litany of experience on the back end of the San Clem ente defense. Reid was the thirdleading tackler for the Tritons last season with 58 tackles, including 30 solo tackles and 28 assisted tackles. Reid also made impacts up front with five tackles for loss and two sacks.
BEN BAKER NG, Jr. Baker will also join the handful of San Clemente linemen who will play both ways. Baker, listed at 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, will line up at nose guard and offensive guard. Baker is another legacy Triton foot ball player, as his father Brad Baker played at SCHS and won a national title at Saddleback College.
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COLE ROBERTSON LB, Sr. Robertson was the defensive MVP for the Tritons last season. Rob ertson led San Clemente with 105 tackles, including 54 solo tackles, 51 assisted tackles and three sacks. Robertson made 20 tackles in the Tritons’ first-round playoff game against Roosevelt. Robertson is an instinctive player who plays fast and physical.
RYDER INSLEY CB, Sr. Insley made a name in the Triton secondary as a physical presence on the outside. Insley made 41 tackles, including 26 solo tackles and 15 assisted tackles. Insley star ring as a corner is interesting, as his father Trevor Insley was a legend ary receiver for San Clemente and at Nevada, and who also played in the NFL.
BRAD GERKEN SS/FS, Sr. Gerken leads the San Clemente defense as one of those threeyear starters, who may have the most defensive snaps taken in the secondary. Gerken was second in tackles last season with 65, includ ing 39 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles. Gerken has worked on his man and zone coverage in the offseason.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH DEFENSE TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH PLAYER SPOTLIGHT 1 2 3 4 5
- Senior Receiver Thomas Hartanov
- Senior Cornerback Ryder Insley
TRITON TALK
“There’s nothing better than the Loud Crowd on Friday nights. Stands are packed, everyone is super-hyped; Game Days are the best here.”
“THE WHOLE CITY SHUTS DOWN, AND EVERYONE COMES TO SEE OUR GAMES. IT’S NOT LIKE ANY OTHER TOWN WHERE THERE’S MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS IN ONE TOWN. EVERYONE COMES TO THIS ONE GAME.”
- Senior Linebacker Cole Robertson
sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times August 11-17, 2022 Page 20 “THE TEAM CHEMISTRY IS 100% THERE, AND EVERYONE IS 100% COMMITTED AND THERE FOR EACH OTHER. YOU CAN FEEL IT WHEN YOU’RE OUT HERE.”
TRAINING CAMP
- Junior Lineman Connor Bachhuber
“It’s definitely a chip on our shoulder. We didn’t want to end (last season) that way. I think this year is going to be a lot different. We’re starting to let it go and focus on this year.”
“WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I’D STAND AT THE GATE AND HIGH-FIVE ALL THE PLAYERS COMING ON THE FIELD, AND ONE DAY THAT’LL BE ME. AND NOW, HERE I AM.”
- Senior Lineman Colin Brophy
