The Champs are Back
Reigning state, CIF champion
San Clemente reloads for 2017 season
BY STEVE BREAZEALE
Jaime Ortiz was standing on the sidelines of a recent USC football practice when the shirt he was wearing sparked the curiosity of a woman standing nearby. The words “Triton Football” emblazoned in red and black caught her eye, and she had to ask the coach a question.
“Wasn’t Jack Sears your quarterback last year?” the woman, whose son plays for the Trojans, asked last year’s CIF-SS Division 2 coach of the year.
Name recognition, it seems, has caught up to the San Clemente High School football program.
It’s no surprise Ortiz continues to field questions like that and receive congratulations from residents and strangers alike.
Players like Sears and Sam Darnold, both now playing football at USC, brought the Tritons into the spotlight in recent years, culminating with the program winning CIF-SS and state titles in 2016. The Tritons reached the top of the California high school football universe, and returned home as the toast of Orange County and the
pride of the beach community they play for. Ortiz and his players allowed themselves to bask in the victory and the special season, but only for so long. As is the case in any sport, they knew the next season was just on the horizon.
The 2017 Tritons will begin the new year under a microscope, but are loaded with returning talent. They’ll run through a tough schedule and have been moved up to CIF-SS Division 1. Expectations, understandably, are high.
Dealing with the hype
Whenever a team wins a CIF-SS title, let alone a state championship, they enter the next season as a sort-of “marked man”. Nearly every (Continued)
L to R: Chris Kane, Bryce Wilson, Branden Wilson, Keith Jones and Chase Berman will lead a veteran Triton football team into the 2017 season. Photo: Eric Heinz
TRITON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
(Continued)
team they face next season will have that date circled in red, knowing they’ll be playing the reigning champions.
The Triton players know this all too well.
“I love it,” senior tight end Chris Kane said of the Tritons’ position. “To have people mark our game on their calendars … that’s awesome for us. It adds to our competitiveness.”
Ortiz said the coaching staff has kept the focus on the field, working under the guiding mantra of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Just because they won several games last season hasn’t drastically affected the way the Tritons are preparing for the new season.
“Sometimes if you try and change too much, you forget everything that you changed,” Ortiz said. “There are little things we’ve done, and we have a couple guys going both ways more than we did last year, but I don’t think a whole lot has changed.
The kids still want to work hard and represent their community and their school.”
Experience on offense
The Tritons return a nice mix of impact starters on offense from last year’s squad, which averaged 36.4 points per game. They return All-CIF-SS and All-South Coast League running back Austin Whitsett, who averaged nearly 70 yards per game and scored three touchdowns.
The Tritons are deep at receiver, and will deliver a one-two punch with all-league wide out Keith Jones and four-year starter Chase Berman.
Keeping up the tradition of top-level tight ends in the program is Chris Kane, a hot recruit who reeled in five touchdown passes in 11 games during an all-league junior campaign. Kane is a versatile weapon who can block as well as be deployed at wide receiver.
The Tritons are inexperienced on the offensive line, but have returning senior left tackle Thomas Wade, who recently picked up a handful of collegiate offers.
The big question mark on offense is at quarterback.
After several years of stability at the position, a quarterback competition is underway to see who will win the starting job. Juniors Jay Baggs, Rob Farney and Brendan Costello, a transfer from Santa Margarita, are getting reps in practice. Ortiz believes the Tritons next signal caller will emerge after a few more weeks of practice in pads at game speed.
Swarm defense
Before the start of last season, Ortiz returned to the role of defensive coordinator for the first time in four seasons. He wanted the Tritons to fly to the ball and play what he calls “swarm defense”.
Now with a full season of Ortiz’s defensive philosophy in place, the Tritons are poised to be strong on defense yet again.
The Tritons will have one of the more dynamic groups of defensive backs in Orange County. Seniors Branden Wilson (cornerback), Bryce Wilson (safety) and Jack Shippy (safety) tormented opposing offenses last season, especially when Shippy
jumped into the mix after sitting out the first five games due to transfer requirements.
Once Shippy joined the team, the Tritons had a trio of game-changing players that combined to record nine interceptions.
from Division 2 to Division 1 this offseason. The Tritons will be one of 20 teams vying for 18 available playoff spots next winter.
In preparation for South Coast League play and for a run at the playoffs, the Tritons will play a difficult schedule.
Because we have such a tight bond, out on the field it’s like playing with your buddies on the schoolyard. It’s like a game for us. We’re really able to compromise and communicate with each other.
—JACK SHIPPY “ ”
Riley Croft, the team’s leading tackler last season, returns to play middle linebacker. Where the Tritons are thin is on the defensive line, but they will have returner Louis Harden to anchor the group. Kane will also play on the defensive line, along with 6-foot5-inch junior Wakely Lush.
Moving on up
As a result of their success over the past two seasons, San Clemente was moved up
Ortiz said it was hard to schedule games against Orange County opponents, so the Tritons will play games against quality noncounty programs like Oceanside (Aug. 25), Murrieta Valley (Sept. 15) and Palos Verdes (Sept. 22).
The Tritons will play Murrieta Valley, Palos Verdes and Edison in order, making for a tough three-week stretch. Last year, San Clemente defeated Murrieta Valley and Edison to claim the CIF-SS Division 2 and CIF SoCal Division 1A Regional titles, respectively.
Highly-ranked Mission Viejo awaits the Tritons in the South Coast League. San Clemente finished second in league behind the Diablos in 2016.
Don’t miss a moment of the action!
Follow us on social media all season long for in-game scores, updates and news regarding the Triton football team. You can follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports, on Instagram @S_C_Times and on Facebook. Have scores or photos you would like to submit? Email us at sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com.
Senior Austin Whitsett is a three-year starter for the Tritons, and will be the team’s go-to running back in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale
San Clemente adopted coach Jaime Ortiz’s “swarm defense” mentality. Photo: Steve Breazeale
FIVE TO WATCH OFFENSE
Austin Whitsett
RB (No. 33) SR. Whitsett was the Tritons’ primary running back in 2016, and piled up 1,106 yards on 182 carries en route to an All-CIF-SS selection. Whitsett, a three-sport athlete, picked up offers from the University of San Diego and Cornell, as well as a preferred walk-on spot at Stanford this offseason, and is poised for a big senior year.
Keith Jones
WR (No. 17) SR.
Standing at 6-feet-2-inches tall and weighing 195 pounds, Jones will provide the Tritons with a big, speedy target at wide out. Jones was one of the Tritons’ go-to receivers in 2016, where he reeled in 55 catches for 660 yards and seven touchdowns. Jones is primed for a big senior season, and is garnering collegiate interest.
Chris Kane
TE (No. 88) SR. Kane became one of the more high-profile recruits in Orange County over the offseason for good reason. The versatile 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound Kane can be deployed as a blocking tight end, at wide receiver and in the slot. Kane, who holds six collegiate offers, says he spent the offseason working on being a more physical presence.
Chase Berman
WR (No. 4) SR. Berman is a four-year starter, the most experienced player on the team and one of the Tritons’ unquestioned leaders. Berman caught 21 passes in 11 games and scored five touchdowns at wide out last year, but will see an expanded role throughout his senior campaign.
Thomas Wade
OL (No. 74) SR.
As the lone offensive lineman returning with extensive experience, Wade’s presence at left tackle will be crucial for the Tritons in 2017. Wade, a 6-foot5-inch lineman with six collegiate offers, made the move to the all-important blind side after playing at right tackle as a junior.
FIVE TO WATCH DEFENSE
Jack Shippy
SS (No. 27) SR. Shippy is an absolute game-changer on defense, and returns to lead an experienced and talented secondary. Shippy racked up 53 tackles and a team-high six interceptions in just 10 games as a junior. Shippy, a former linebacker, brings a ball-hawk mentality to his position at strong safety and will no doubt provide some highlightreel plays.
Branden Wilson
CB (No. 36) SR.
Serving as the team’s shutdown cornerback, Wilson recorded 67 tackles and two interceptions as a junior. Wilson, who was named All-CIF-SS last year, is also committed to play lacrosse at the University of Utah. Like his brother, Bryce, Branden will be called upon to ignite the special teams unit returning kicks.
Riley Croft
LB (No. 44) SR. Croft, the team’s leading tackler from last season, returns to anchor the defense at the middle linebacker position. Croft was an integral part of the Tritons’ defense last year, where he recorded 130 tackles and played in all 16 games. Croft felt the team made big strides last year, but “this year we’re trying to perfect the defense and play great football,” he said.
Bryce Wilson
FS (No. 26) SR. Wilson, along with Shippy and his brother, Branden, returns to anchor an experienced and dynamic secondary. Wilson, an All-CIF-SS selection, made 105 tackles and recorded one interception as a junior, and will be called upon to produce at free safety again in 2017. Wilson will also assist on special teams as a kick and punt returner.
Louis Harden
DL (No. 78) SR.
Harden will provide a big, physical presence for the Tritons’ defensive front. San Clemente is thin on experience on the line and while Harden appeared in just a few games as a junior, he is ready for the challenge of taking on a starting role as a senior.
Training Camp Talk
BY STEVE BREAZEALE
High school football training camp is a symphony of sound. The whistles, yells, hits, cheers and the chatter echo across the field throughout the month of August, helping to tell the story of a team about to begin another year on the gridiron.
San Clemente Times spoke with several San Clemente players to hear what the talk of training camp has been, and how they are preparing for the new season.
Any play can be made. If the ball is in the air, it’s yours.
—SAFETY JACK SHIPPY ON HIS DEFENSIVE MINDSET
Being a public school from South Orange County, you’re not used to having a target on your back. But people definitely know who we are now. We want to build on that and take down some big programs in the playoffs and show everyone what we’ve got.
—RUNNING BACK AUSTIN WHITSETT ON EXPECTATIONS
The leadership last year was very important to how successful we were. In practice, we were pushing each other every day and trying to get better. I’ve been trying to implement that in our younger guys this year, telling them, ‘Hey, we have a target on our back and we have to be ready.’
“ “
Most of us came up from freshman year together, so we know how we play. We play like a family on the field. Now that we’re older and we’re seniors, it’s really going to show.
—RECEIVER CHASE BERMAN ON TEAM CHEMISTRY
—TIGHT END CHRIS KANE ON SENIOR LEADERSHIP
GAME ONE AUGUST 25
Season Schedule and Team Previews
BY STEVE BREAZEALE
Location: Oceanside HS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: David Rodriguez
2016 Record: 8-3
(4-2 Avocado League)
2016 vs SC: Win, 51-42 Season Outlook: Oceanside will be looking to rejoin the conversation as a premier team out of the San Diego Section in 2017. The Pirates, who were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round last season, return enough impact starters to reload this fall. Oceanside returns seven starters from a defense that allowed an average of 23 points per game last year. Leading the way will be safety Armond Fesili, the team’s leading tackler in 2016, and linebacker Mikah Linnan. Oceanside lost a lot of playmakers to graduation, but a veteran offensive line should help with a smooth transition. Three linemen return, anchored by highly recruited Donovan Laie.
GAME SIX SEPTEMBER 29
Location: SCHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Jeff Grady
2016 Record: 13-2
(5-0 Sunset League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 39-35
Season Outlook: Led by standout quarterback Griffin O’Connor and a new head coach, Edison is poised for a big season. Longtime coach Dave White stepped down after 31 years at the helm. Replacing him will be Jeff Grady, an Edison alum. Grady inherits a talented squad that captured the CIF-SS Division 3 Championship and appeared in the CIF SoCal Division 1-A Regional Bowl game last year. Edison returns a 3,600-yard passer in O’Connor and a 1,000-yard rusher in Jack Carmichael. Returning linebackers Mateo Gallego and Luke Hoggard will help ensure this won’t be a rebuilding year.
GAME TWO SEPTEMBER 1
Location: SCHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Brett Brown
2016 Record: 4-7
(2-3 Sunset League)
2016 vs SC: Loss, 38-13
Season Outlook: The Oilers treaded water under the guidance of first-year head coach Brett Brown last season. Huntington Beach will look to navigate its way through a tough Sunset League and nonleague schedule in 2017. The Oilers will play three South Coast League squads, including Tesoro and San Juan Hills, before taking on reigning CIF-SS Division 3 champion Edison and Division 3 semifinalist Los Alamitos in league play. Returning to the fold is wide out Jeremiah Flanagan and senior linebacker John Gosney, who averaged just over seven tackles per game last season. Two-way player Caleb Webb returns.
GAME SEVEN OCTOBER 13
Location: SCHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Matt Poston
2016 Record: 5-6
(1-3 South Coast League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 41-3
Season Outlook: Tesoro will head into the new season with an impressive 16 returning starters from last year’s campaign. Leading the charge on offense will be senior quarterback Chase Petersen and versatile receiving weapon Seth Gilmore. Gilmore will be deployed at multiple spots on the field. Senior defensive end James Williams, who landed an offer from Cal State San Luis Obispo this offseason, returns to anchor the defense.
Coach Matt Poston lined up a difficult schedule for his team. Of the 10 teams Tesoro will face this year, eight of them reached the playoffs one year ago.
GAME THREE SEPTEMBER 8
Location: Fullerton HS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Gus Martinez and Ed DeAvila
2016 Record: 4-6
(1-4 Freeway League)
2016 vs. SC: DNP
Season Outlook: The Indians return depth and experience at key positions. Junior quarterback Gavin Klepper played in every game under center as a sophomore, and will look to improve his 10:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio from one year ago. Klepper will have returning 6-foot-2-inch receiver Jarod Martinez and Adam Gonzalez to throw to. Linebacker Anthony Ayon (six sacks and 70 tackles in 2016) returns on defense. Fullerton has held its own in the competitive Freeway League last season. Four of the five league games the Indians played in were decided by 14 points or less, but all four games resulted in a loss.
GAME FOUR SEPTEMBER 15
Location: SCHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: George Wilson
2016 Record: 11-3
(5-0 Southwestern League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 45-35
Season Outlook: With the return of junior quarterback Hank Bachmeier, the Nighthawks appear poised for another successful season. Bachmeier threw for 3,862 yards and 46 touchdowns in his spectacular sophomore campaign. His favorite target, Marquis Spiker, returns. The two linked up for 26 touchdowns last year. The Nighthawks will need to find a running back to replace 2,472-yard rusher Olita Palmer, who graduated. The Nighthawks, who advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 Championship game in 2016, were content with outscoring their opponents last year, averaging 50 points per game while conceding an average of 33 points per game on defense.
Location: SJHHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Aaron Flowers
2016 Record: 7-4
(2-2 South Coast League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 35-20
Season Outlook: The Stallions proved to be a resilient squad last year. They played in five, one-score games and came out on top in four of them. But many of those players from last year are gone, which has made for competition in fall camp. The Stallions employed a twoquarterback platoon last year, and will continue the trend this year. Seniors Doug Jackson and Matt Rodriguez will be the ones under center. Offensive and defensive lineman Sean Rhyan is one of the county’s hottest recruits. He picked up offers from several Pac12 schools, including USC, Stanford and UCLA this offseason.
GAME FIVE SEPTEMBER 22
Location: El Camino College Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Guy Gardner
2016 Record: 7-5
(4-1 Bay League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 28-7
Season Outlook: Palos Verdes relied on the run to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 3 Championships last year. With senior quarterback Jake Nolls and a stable of backs returning, that trend should continue in 2017. The Sea Kings had five players record at least 33 carries last season, including three players who recorded at least 91 carries. Palos Verdes averaged just over 187 yards rushing compared to 91.6 yards passing. Palos Verdes had a strong defense last season as well, one that allowed just 17 points per game. Safety Cole Wilken and linebacker Will Boss return.
Location: SCHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: John Abdelnour
2016 Record: 2-8
(0-4 South Coast League)
2016 vs. SC: Loss, 49-14
Season Outlook: Trabuco Hills mustered up just two wins in coach John Abdelnour’s inaugural season at the helm in 2016. With the graduation of a large senior class, the Mustangs, the 2014 CIFSS Southwest Division champions, will look to regain their footing. Several impact players on offense graduated, but the Mustangs’ returning depth on defense should be a strength. Trabuco Hills returns its leading tackler from last year in senior linebacker Nick Friedman. Trabuco Hills’ defensive line returns several starters from last year, including Garrett Pinvidic, Wyatt Shubin and Ryan Ramer.
Location: MVHS
Time: 7 p.m.
Coach: Bob Johnson
2016 Record: 11-1
(4-0 South Coast League)
2016 vs. SC: Win, 41-3
Season Outlook: The Diablos run like a well-oiled Swiss watch, and every season they are able to reload for another deep playoff push. Mission Viejo, the reigning South Coast League champion, seems to have found its quarterback in St. John Bosco transfer Joey Yellen. Yellen will be surrounded by standout wide receivers Austin Osborne, a University of Washington commit, and Olaijah Griffin. Griffin also plays cornerback and is committed to play at UCLA. Linebacker and Arizona State commit Christian LaValle returns after leading the Diablos in tackles last season.
