2015 Triton Football Preview

By Steve Breazeale The San Clemente High School football

teams focus last year was putting the program back on the map of the prep sports landscape after winning only two games in 2013. They accomplished that and then some. The Tritons barnstormed their way to a

Sea View League title, won 12 games and appeared in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship game in 2014. It was in the championship game, however, where they hit a snag. San Clemente was bested by league rival Trabuco Hills in a back-and-forth bout that came down to the final minutes. The Mustangs, who the Tritons defeated earlier in the season for the league title, ended up with CIF rings.Now that they have returned the program

to contender status, the veteran-heavy Triton program is focusing on taking things one step further after knowing what it feels like to get so close to the top. We know we should have finished that

(championship) game. Our whole mindset (this year) is just finishing, senior offensive lineman Dont Harrington said. In the championship game it came down to the last six minutes Its still a little bit of a sore spot to talk about. But theres definitely something going on this season where we know that we put San Clemente back on the map with what we did last year, and its time to finish it.San Clemente enters the season with 12

returning starters and five players who have Division I offers from collegiate programs. Seven players return to the high-powered

offense that scored an average of 45 points per game in 2014. A large part of that pro-duction was due to graduated senior quar-terback Sam Darnold, who had a record-breaking season and is now playing at USC. But almost all of the pieces that surrounded Darnold are back.The running back tandem of senior Vlad

Dzhabiyev and junior Brandon Reaves lived up to their Thunder and Lightning nick-names given to them by the coaching staff last season. Dzhabiyev earned Sea View League offensive MVP honors after rushing for 1,149 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught six passes and scored six times as a receiver. Dzhabiyev will be a focal point on offense but will also play linebacker on defense. Reaves rushed for 645 yards and 13

touchdowns and added seven more scores as a receiver. He also had several big plays returning kicks on special teams. Dzhabiyev remains the punishing, down-

www.sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times | Triton Football Preview | Page 3

2015 TRITON FOOTBALL PREVIEW

hill runner in the duo, and Reaves has spent the offseason adding 10 pounds to his frame while maintaining his dynamic speed, ac-cording to head coach Jaime Ortiz. Ortiz said his teams offensive line is the

biggest the Tritons have fielded since 2011. Left guard Harrington (6-foot-3 inches, 285 pounds), senior left tackle Tucker Scott (6-foot-5, 275 pounds), a Utah commit, and center Noah Valovich (6-foot-1, 280 pounds) all started last year and return to

able to spread the ball around a little more and have a few more weapons that we had in the past, Ortiz said.The quarterback who will replace Darnold

has yet to be named. Senior Jack Sears, junior Sander Lush and sophomore Doug Jackson are all competing for the starting job, but it is Sears who has the slight edge so far, according to Ortiz. Sears, who Ortiz described as athletic and mobile, was the teams backup last year and picked up an

Unfinished BusinessAfter a 12-2 season, the San Cle-mente High School football team readies for another playoff push

and his staff will be rotating players like Wright, Dzhabiyev, juniors Ryan Russell and Riley Croft in at linebacker. As a whole, the Tritons defense is not as

big as it was last season, which should put a different skill set in the spotlight. Were really focusing on our speed and

ability to get to the ball fast. We dont have the biggest kids but we do have the skill and speed to be good, Wright said. Defensive end Liam Buhl and defensive

tackle Nate Atkins will be mainstays at their positions. Ortiz said the defensive line will have a lot of personnel changes and move-ment in the early going. The Tritons competitive schedule remains

almost entirely intact from last year, with the new additions being San Juan Hills and La Mirada. San Clemente has returned as a contender.

A lot of the players on the roster now know what it feels like to be on the biggest of prep sports stages. But Ortiz is advising his players to have a short-term memory because stay-ing on the map is never a guarantee. We cant rely on last year. We cant rely

on the record, the league championship, the CIF finals appearance and we cant rely on the players who graduated. Its about the players in the room right now and theyve had a great offseason, Ortiz said. Right now were ahead of where we were last off-season The kids have learned and adapted on both sides of the ball and its going to pay dividends down the line.

In the championship game it came down to the last six

minutes Its still a little bit of a sore spot to talk about.

But theres definitely something going on this season

where we know that we put San Clemente back on the

map with what we did last year, and its time to finish it.

lead the line. Add the Tritons two tight ends to the mix, 6-foot-5-inch senior Cole Foth-eringham and 6-foot-4 junior Isaac Rex, and the Tritons have the makings of a large and physical front line. Fotheringham, a Utah commit who caught

eight touchdown passes last year, presents even more options for the Tritons offense to run through. This year I think we are a little more well-

rounded. This year I think were going to be

offer from Utah during the offseason.Five starters return to the defense,

including seniors Kevin Kling (cornerback), Andrew Frohner (safety) and Tanner Wright. The trio was a part of a Tritons secondary that recorded 15 interceptions last season. Wright will float in and out of the outside linebacker and safety positions. Replacing graduated senior linebacker

Riley Whimpeys school-record 172 total tackles in 2014 will not be easy, and Ortiz

Dont Harrington

San Clemente High School football players run through a tackling drill during practice. Photo: Steve Breazeale



With the football season about to begin, we catch up with

three impact players to get their thoughts on last year,

the offseason and what to expect out of the Tritons in 2015.

San Clemente Times: Last years offense put up big-time numbers. Will this years group be able to replicate that? Or will it be a dif-ferent style?

Dont Harrington (offensive lineman): We put up a lot of points up on the board (last year). This year I think well be pretty balanced too. We have those big dudes up front well pound the ball were going to definitely establish the run and then open it up with the pass. (Opponents) arent going to know whats going on.

SCT: This years team motto is Respect the Process. What does that mean to you?

Tanner Wright (linebacker): Coming out

2015/2016 TEAM ROSTER

Senior Tanner Wright is among several Tritons players with three years of starting varsity experience. Photo: Steve Breazeale

here every day and being on the field doing your hardest for the people you play with. Its also working in the weight room too and making sure you study the other team and know your responsibilities and execute them.

SCT: The defense will have a new look this year. What will be something for fans to key in on when you take the field?

Andrew Frohner (safety): Were just high energy. (We have) a little more pop this year because we dont have to build necessar-ily. None of us are 6-foot-3 or anything. But were going to fly around and were going to swarm every play. Were going to gang-tackle (players).

#

12346781114151617181920212223242526272829303233353637434448505152535455565758596167707277798081828384858890

Name

Andrew FrohnerBrandon ReavesJason GraffChase BermanSander LushLogan ManningDade AmonLiam BuhlCole FotheringhamRyan RussellJack SearsTanner WrightDoug JacksonLiam EldridgeChristian BrownTristin CarrollTaylor ScottJordan SummersKevin KlingCesar AlvarezBryce WilsonJosh SanchezShane LockettKalvin ShahnavazVlad DzhabiyevAiren LapsleyAustin WhitsettCalvin WilliamsBranden WilsonJosh St. ClairChase GutierrezRiley CroftJesse MikulecTurner TonkovichScott RoyerMarc LeissTucker ScottAustin MooreCody BurnerLuis RomeroMike RinehartJohny SerranoDayton RomoJake DobsonMicah ButtsNoah ValovichZachary CochrunNate AtkinsDont HarringtonTyler HundleyTyler HickeyJack RegaladoIsaac RexChris KaneKeith JonesMarko ZlaticGarrett Silverman

Position

S/WRRBSS/FSWR/KQBQBDTDETEOLQBOLBQBWRCBCBSSRBCWRFSCBLBCBRB/LBWRRBWRCBRBLBLBRBCtrDTRGLTDEDL GLBDLDL/OLRGRTCRTDTOLWRWRWRTETEWRDEDE

Height

51059511606 360615864596351063615105 1060605116151058510511510595,105 95759575 105105115116065646,156511606063511616562636262626464626 161

Weight

175170162165190170230185225175200185158175160160165175166190160140180165185150180140150155170190160195155205275204220210195200210248235280276230285175180145220200187180210

Grade

Sr.Jr.Jr.Soph.Jr.Jr.Sr.Sr.Sr.Jr.Jr.Sr.Soph.Sr.Sr.Jr.Jr.Jr.Sr.Jr.Soph.Jr.Soph.Jr.Sr.Jr.Soph.Jr.Soph.Jr.Sr.Soph.Jr.Jr.Jr.Sr.Sr.Jr.Sr.Jr.Jr.Jr.Jr.Jr.Jr.Sr.Jr.Sr.Sr.Soph.Jr.Jr.Jr.Soph.Soph.Sr.Jr.

TALKTriton

San Juan HillsLocation: San Juan HillsTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Aaron FlowersLeague: South Coast2014-2015 record: 4-7 (1-3 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: DNPSeason Outlook: The Stallions were tasked with performing on a big stage last year after being moved up from the Sea View League to the South Coast League for the first time in program history. The wins were hard to come by, but the team was able to scrape together a strong enough resume to earn a bid into the CIF-SS West Valley Division playoffs. Standout senior quarterback and

Nebraska commit Patrick OBrien will be the Stallions lynchpin to success this season. OBrien, who competed in the Elite 11 quarterback competition this offseason, is a dual-threat quarterback with a big 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound frame and a strong arm.

Huntington BeachLocation: San ClementeTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Eric LoLeague: Sunset2014-2015 record: 3-7 (2-3 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 44-21Season Outlook: The Oilers are two years removed from a CIF-SS Southwest Division title and will have to find a replacement for graduated senior quarterback Chad James. Whoever steps in under center will have several threats surrounding him on of-fense. Senior tight end Nick Crab-tree, a Boise State commit, returns after a 21-catch, 332-yard cam-paign in 2014. Senior running back Hunter Simmons, who rushed for 1,020 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior, returns. The Oilers should have depth

on defense and will be led by senior defensive end and USC commit Liam Jimmons. Jimmons had 45 total tackles and led the team with nine sacks last season.

Dana HillsLocation: Dana HillsTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Phil SkinnerLeague: South Coast 2014-2015 record: 1-9 (0-4 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 49-21Season Outlook: The Dolphins struggled mightily throughout the 2014 season. Dana Hills played a very tough nonleague schedule and went winless in the tough South Coast League. There was a shakeup at Dana

Hills over the offseason, as former head coach Todd Rusinkovich re-signed and longtime assistant Phil Skinner stepped into the lead role. The Dolphins plan to use an up-tempo offense that will feature plenty of junior running back Con-nor McCloud. McCloud is one of a handful of returning players and rushed for 512 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.

La MiradaLocation: San ClementeTime: 7 p.m. Coach: Mike MoschettiLeague: Suburban2014-2015 record: (9-2, 6-0 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: DNPSeason Outlook: La Mirada was a pass-heavy team last season. Graduated senior quarterback Christian Lara averaged 208 yards per game and completed 30 or more passes to three different senior receivers, who have all graduated. The Matadores have a viable running option in the backfield with the return of senior Sei-J Lauago. Lauago rushed for 612 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. La Mirada returns several

standouts on defense, including lineman Keanu Saleapaga, line-backers Cameron Carr and Titus Dixon and defensive back Micah Croom.

Newport HarborLocation: San ClementeTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Jeff BrinkleyLeague: Sunset 2014-2015 record: 6-6 (3-2 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 47-24Season Outlook: Newport Harbors depth chart took a heavy hit to graduation, but if there is one thing you can count on in Orange County high school football its the Sailors always being in the playoff discus-sion come the end of the season. Newport Harbors head coach Jeff Brinkley is entering his 30th year at the helm and in his tenure the Sailors have made the postseason 23 times. Juniors Gage Roberson and the

6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Cole Kinder return to the running back position.

SEASON SCHEDULE AND GAME PREVIEWS BY STEVE BREAZEALE2015 TRITON FOOTBALL PREVIEW

GAME TWO GAME THREE GAME FOURGAME ONE GAME FIVESEPTEMBER 4 SEPTEMBER 11 SEPTEMBER 18AUGUST 28 SEPTEMBER 25

Aliso NiguelLocation: San ClementeTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Kurt WestlingLeague: Sea View 2014-2015 record: 4-6 (1-3 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 56-15Season Outlook: The bright spot in Aliso Niguels 2014 campaign was the youth on the roster getting valuable playing time at important positions. The Wolverines took their lumps and went 4-6 overall last season, defeating one-win Laguna Hills for their lone Sea View League victory. Several players return for Aliso

Niguel this season, including senior quarterback Nick Chapman. Chap-man had a strong connection with graduated senior Remy Wasserbach last season and will need to find that same chemistry with a new crop of wide outs in 2015.

TesoroLocation: TesoroTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Matt PostonLeague: South Coast 2014-2015 record: 9-3 (3-1 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Win, 59-38Season Outlook: Tesoro continued their success under head coach Matt Poston in 2014, highlighted by a second-place finish in the South Coast League and an appearance in the second round of the CIF-SS West Valley Division playoffs. The Titans depth in 2015 has them posi-tioned for another playoff push. On offense, the Titans return two

of their star playmakers, quarter-back Devon Modster and running back Anthony Battista. Modster, a University of Arizona commit, threw for 2,602 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing just nine intercep-tions last season. Battista, a fast, workhorse-type back, carried the ball 183 times for 845 yards in 2014.

Capistrano ValleyLocation: Capistrano ValleyTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Ernst BucherLeague: Sea View2014-2015 record: 9-4 (2-2 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 54-27 in regular season; Loss, 28-27 (OT) in playoffsSeason Outlook: Capistrano Val-ley seemed to hit their stride un-der second-year head coach Ernst Bucher in 2014. The Cougars won nine games and advanced to the semifinals of the CIF-SS South-west Division playoffs. Several key players from last years team have graduated, and the new-look Cougars will be put to the test early by their tough nonleague schedule, which features games against Tesoro and El Toro. Capistrano Valleys offense will

be anchored by two-sport standout Jordan Bocko. Bocko, a star for the Cougars baseball team, is a versatile back who racked up 942 yards rush-ing and 17 touchdowns as a junior.

Laguna HillsLocation: San ClementeTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Bruce IngallsLeague: Sea View2014-2015 record: 1-9 (0-4 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 49-10Season Outlook: The Hawks simply could not stop teams with their defense last season. Laguna Hills opponents scored 30 points or more against them seven times last year and things got worse in league play, where Sea View League opponents averaged 49 points per game against the Hawks. The defense, which was young last year, returns six start-ers with experience. The Hawks used a two-

quarterback platoon system last year, with graduated senior Lucky Zuvich getting a slight majority of the touches over current senior Mitchell OHair, who figures to be this years starter.

Trabuco HillsLocation: Trabuco HillsTime: 7 p.m.Coach: Joe SilveyLeague: Sea View2014-2015 record: 10-4 (3-1 league)2014-2015 vs. SCHS: Loss, 42-35 in regular season; Win, 44-37 in playoffsSeason Outlook: Despite winning the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship in 2014, a lot of change took place at Trabuco Hills this offseason, starting at the top. Head coach Troy Henney resigned to take the head coaching job at Westlake and Joe Silvey has taken over.Personnel-wise, the Mustangs

lost All-CIF and All-Sea View League brothers Brenden and Colin Schooler, who transferred to Mission Viejo. Colin Schooler was the leagues co-defensive MVP.Even with the turnover, the Mus-tangs should remain strong defen-sively and return their top running back, Chad Crosbie, on offense.

SEASON SCHEDULE AND GAME PREVIEWS2015 TRITON FOOTBALL PREVIEW

GAME SEVEN GAME EIGHT GAME NINEGAME SIX GAME 10OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER 23 OCTOBER 30OCTOBER 2 NOVEMBER 6

Cole Fotheringham TE (No. 14) Sr.

Fotheringham will be one of the key play-

ers in the Tritons passing game in 2015.

The 6-foot-5-inch senior had a solid junior

season and will provide a big target who

can also block. Fotheringham, a Univer-

sity of Utah commit, will help make up a

tall and physical offensive front at the line

of scrimmage.

Tucker ScottOL (No. 53) Sr.

Scott is another member of the Tritons of-

fense with three years of starting experi-

ence. Scott, a University of Utah commit,

will play the all-important left tackle

position. Ortiz said Scott, along with Har-

rington, is the heart and soul of the offen-

sive line. Scott was a fi rst team All-CIF and

All-League selection in 2014.

Liam EldridgeWR (No. 19) Sr.

Eldridge was a starting cornerback last

year and led the Tritons with fi ve inter-

ceptions. This offseason, he has made the

transition to receiver. The Tritons will

have multiple weapons at their disposal

on offense this season and Eldridge is in

the mix to claim the top receiver spot.

5 1 2

3 4 Vlad DzhabiyevRB (No. 30) Sr.Dzhabiyev had a stellar junior season

running the ball for the Tritons. He led

the team with 165 carries, piling up 1,149

yards and 13 touchdowns en route to

Sea View League offensive MVP honors.

Dzhabiyev will also be an offensive threat

that can catch passes out of the backfi eld

and at the slot receiver spot.

Dont Harrington OL (No. 79) Sr.

Harrington is a four-year starter at of-

fensive line and serves as the voice of the

team, according to head coach Jaime Ortiz.

Harrington, who stands at 6 feet, 3 inches

and weighs 285 pounds, will start at left

guard and could potentially play center if

called upon. Harrington holds offers from

Army, Navy and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.



OFFENSEto watch

5

Andrew FrohnerS (No. 1) Sr.

Frohner had a breakout junior season at

safety, tallying 77 total tackles and three

interceptions. The All-Sea View League

selection returns to help anchor the Tritons

veteran secondary unit. Frohner has the

ability to make game-changing plays and, ac-

cording to head coach Jaime Ortiz, is among

the hardest working players on the team.

Liam BuhlDE (No. 11) Sr.

Buhl was an impact player on the defensive

line last season, racking up 46 total tackles,

four sacks, seven hurries and even recorded

one interception. The Tritons defensive line

lost a few starters to graduation and will

have a rotating group of players lining up

in the early going, so look to Buhl to be a

fi xture at the line of scrimmage.

Nate AtkinsDL (No. 77) Sr.

Atkins played in 10 games as a junior and

will provide some leadership at defensive

line. Ortiz said the personnel at defensive

line will be a mix and match situation, but

Atkins, who had 22 tackles last year, will

defi nitely get a large amount of playing

time.

5 1

3 4 Tanner Wright DB/LB (No. 17) Sr.Wright, a three-year starter and All-Sea

View League selection from last year, is

gearing up to be a versatile weapon on

defense for the Tritons. Ortiz said Wright,

who played safety last season, could do

anything from fi lling in at a linebacker spot

to dropping back into coverage as a roving

defensive back over the course of a game.

Kevin KlingCB (No. 24) Sr.

Kling saw a considerable amount of

playing time last year at cornerback and

appeared in nine games. With that experi-

ence under his belt, Kling will be tasked

with regular starting duties at the position

as a senior.



DEFENSEto watch

5

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