Last-Minute Drive Powers San Clemente

A two-yard run by Colin Mahoney culminated a frantic 15-play, 51-yard drive and gave San Clemente the touchdown it needed to secure a 7-3 victory over San Bernardino Pacific Friday night at San Clemente High.

Mahoney’s plunge was the last in a series of big plays by the Tritons in the game’s final minutes.

The first was a 12-yard run by Ryan King after a fake punt on a fourth-and-six play from the Pacific 47. Another was an eight-yard pass from Matt Mitchell to Chris Smith on fourth-and-seven from the Pacific 22 with 1:58 left.

In between, Mitchell, a sophomore called up this week from the junior varsity, connected with Mike Pearson on a 20-yard pass.

“It was a real moxy performance,” San Clemente Coach Eric Patton said of Mitchell. “He never got rattled and a lot of kids would have under those situations.”

Mitchell was called up because the Tritons top two quarterbacks, Dan Coviello and Beau Budde, are injured. Coviello, a two-year starter, suffered a knee injury before the season. Budde broke his foot last week.

Smith provided plenty of offense, rushing 16 times for 150 yards, but San Clemente (4-1) missed field-goal attempts from 41, 35 and 22 yards.

“Our game plan was to wear [Pacific] down,” Patton said, “but it didn’t work.”

Pacific (1-4) scored on a 37-yard field goal by Anthony Chavez.