Coviello, McCarthy Save Tritons

San Clemente quarterback Danny Coviello threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Josh McCarthy with 31 seconds left to give San Clemente a 38-31 victory over Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League football game Friday.

Coviello and McCarthy connected twice in the last 47 seconds, after the Tritons (4-2, 1-0) had blown a 31-10 lead. The Cougars scored 21 fourth-quarter points to tie the score, 31-31.

San Clemente was on its own 30 with 47 seconds left, when Coviello found McCarthy for a 31-yard gain. On the next play, Coviello threw to McCarthy for the winning score.

McCarthy caught seven passes for 156 yards.

Coviello completed 15 of 24 passes for 241 yards. James Allen rushed for 163 yards on 21 carries.

The Triton defense, though, couldn’t hold the lead in the fourth quarter. Grant Melton (12 carries, 105 yards) scored on runs of one and four yards to cut San Clemente’s lead to, 31-25, with 1:44 remaining. The Tritons tried to run out the clock, but Allen fumbled and the Cougars’ James Bosma recovered at the Triton 42.

Cougar quarterback Jeff Dixon found a wide open Stanley Bouknight for a 45-yard touchdown with 51 seconds left. The Cougars missed the conversion.

Daniel Chapman had 166 yards in 22 carries for the Cougars (1-5), who were coached by assistant Mike Gonzales while Jeff Veeder served a one-week suspension for being ejected in last week’s game.