Tritons Beat Mission Viejo to Win Title All Their Own

Nobody on San Clemente’s team was even born the last time the Tritons won the South Coast League title outright. So excuse senior running back James Allen if he was a little taken aback after his 214-yard, four-touchdown performance helped the Tritons to a 33-23 victory over visiting Mission Viejo and their first outright title in 21 years.

“It’s so shocking,� Allen said. “I don’t even know what to feel. I didn’t expect this.�

Allen and his teammates should drive up the road a few miles and personally thank Dana Hills for making San Clemente’s title possible. The Dolphins upset El Toro, 42-37, Friday night. El Toro (6-4, 3-2) could have claimed a share of the league title with a victory. Mission Viejo, which finished 4-6 overall and 3-2 in league, would have won the league title with a victory over San Clemente (7-3, 4-1).

Mission Viejo had the game in its grasp, but a Robby Dubois fumble with four minutes left set up Allen’s clinching 15-yard touchdown with 2:10 left. Dubois matched Allen yard for yard all night. He finished with 203 yards and two touchdowns in 32 carries.

He was fighting for extra yardage on his 34 with Mission Viejo trailing 25-23 when the ball came loose and San Clemente safety Ryan King fell on it.

“A helmet hit my hand and the ball just came loose,� said Dubois, only a sophomore. “It’s frustrating because we wanted to win this for the seniors.�

But Allen, who watched Dubois tear through his defense all night, said Dubois had nothing to be ashamed of.

“It wasn’t his fault,� said Allen, who also played cornerback. “Our defense just stepped it up.�

San Clemente Coach Eric Patton, in his first year after replacing Mark McElroy, said he’s not looking forward to watching Dubois for the next two years.

“I don’t know how you can stop him,� Patton said. “He runs hard and he runs over people.�

Allen also ran over his share of defenders.

“Coach Patton said I hadn’t had my best game yet,� said Allen, who went over the 1,000 mark for the first time in his career. “I guess I picked the right time to have it.�

In the first half, Allen bolted 95 yards off left tackle for the longest rushing touchdown in school history. The touchdown gave San Clemente a short-lived 13-7 lead. Mission Viejo scored with four seconds left in the half on a Billy Hart to Justin Shultz 13-yard pass to give Mission Viejo a 14-13 lead.

San Clemente took a 19-17 lead on a Chris Smith 29-yard run with 2:31 left in the third quarter, but Tim Hollis’ extra-point attempt was blocked. Dubois’ one-yard run capped a 60-yard drive to put Mission Viejo up 23-19 with 8:24 left in the game. But the Tritons went 76 yards in five plays with Allen scoring on a seven-yard run.