San Clemente Swats Quartz Hill Behind Vaughan’s Dashes

QUARTZ HILL —  It was the game’s defining moment, no question about it.

When San Clemente High’s Allen Vaughan lined up under center on the first series of downs, a pair of Quartz Hill defenders bounced in and out of the gaps in his offensive line, faking a blitz.

Vaughan just waved them off with a flick of his wrist, as if shooing away a housefly.

“That stuff don’t bother me,” Vaughan said. “I’ve been playing for 12 years.”

And he’s aged darn well. Vaughan rushed for 248 yards in 38 carries, both career highs, as San Clemente buried Quartz Hill, 45-21, in a Southern Section Division I playoff game at Quartz Hill.

“We just couldn’t control ‘em,” said Quartz Hill Coach John Albee, whose team entered the game 10-0 and ranked seventh in the state. “We couldn’t get going.”

It wasn’t so much that the Rebels’ offense didn’t generate any activity, but the defense didn’t come close to stopping the Tritons, who were making their first postseason appearance since 1979.

San Clemente (9-2) rolled up 440 yards and Quartz Hill, seeded third, was never closer than 14 points after the first quarter. The Tritons punted once in the first three quarters and Vaughan, who moved back to his customary tailback position after the first series, gained 107 yards rushing in the first quarter and had four touchdowns at the half.

Vaughan was simply unstoppable in the first quarter, when he scored three touchdowns in 17 carries. He carried on all eight plays in San Clemente’s first scoring drive, including a couple of carries while lining up at quarterback.

Vaughan scored on runs of 17 and two yards to give San Clemente a 15-0 lead, and even though Quartz Hill answered on its next possession, San Clemente tacked on two more touchdowns before the half was over.

With San Clemente leading, 15-7, Vaughan scored on a three-yard run with 45 seconds left in the first quarter for a 21-point lead. The game’s biggest series followed.

A pair of quarterback sacks buried Quartz Hill at its five-yard line. Punter Andy Rethi, on the first play of the second quarter, took the snap and watched in horror as Dylan Newman bolted around the left side of the Quartz Hill line.

Newman not only blocked the punt, but he fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and a 28-7 Triton lead. San Clemente didn’t even have a block attempt called defensively.

“Their end was looking at me, then he moved away,” Newman said. “I just laid out.”

Vaughan laid the Rebels to rest thereafter. Vaughan scored on fourth and goal from the two-yard line with 37 seconds left in the half to put San Clemente up, 35-14.

Quartz Hill quarterback Brad Norris completed 15 of 34 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, but threw two interceptions. Fullback Brad Breckenridge rushed for 97 yards and scored on a 49-yard run and a 37-yard pass reception.