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LAWNDALE — San Clemente’s football team arrived at the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals with the profile of a rising contender.
In mid-October, the Tritons played Mission Viejo — then ranked No. 1 in Orange County — to a tie at halftime. The following week, they handed Los Alamitos — off to its best start best since 1998 — its first loss.
And San Clemente beat its first two playoff opponents by an average of 21 points.
The Tritons’ profile as a title challenger grew more serious Friday in Los Angeles County.
Preston Beck threw two touchdowns and Jaxson Rex returned an interception 96 yards for a score as third-seeded San Clemente defeated No. 10 Leuzinger 35-7 at Leuzinger High to advance to the finals for the first time since its state championship season of 2016.
San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck throws the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga leaps to catch the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente running back Carson Sloan runs with the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente wide receiver Thomas Alexander gets a first down during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck throws the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga rushes with the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente running back Colin Granite gets a first down during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga rushes with the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente running back Colin Granite scores a touchdown during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente wide receiver Jesse Torres runs with the ball after making a catch during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente’s Jaxson Rex brings back a kick return during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck runs with the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga rushes with the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) The San Clemente offense celebrates a touchdown during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 14San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck throws the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer) ExpandSan Clemente (9-4) will be the host school next week against Alpha League foe Los Alamitos, which beat top-seeded Murrieta Valley 23-10 in the other semifinal.
“It was nice to get this thing going,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said of the Tritons’ fifth straight win. “We got one more game to go. I told out players to be hungry for more.”
“They’re homegrown kids who enjoy playing for each other and play for their community,” the coach added. “It’s kind of old-school football.”
The Tritons, ranked No. 6 in Orange County, took a 28-7 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Colin Granite scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 70-yard drive after San Clemente forced Leuzinger (11-2) to turned the ball over on downs.
Rex helped extend the march with a 12-yard reception on fourth-and-8 to move the ball to the Olympians 20.
The junior made another highlight play in the middle of fourth quarter. On third-and-goal from the 7, Rex stepped in front of pass intended for Samu Moala and returned the ball 96 yards for a touchdown.
San Clemente’s defense held Leuzinger to 0 for 3 on fourth-down attempts and received tackles for loss from Joshua Kerst and Payton Proffitt.
One key to San Clemente’s rise has been Beck.
The sophomore started the season on the junior varsity squad before emerging as the varsity starter.
Beck continued his steady play in the first half by throwing two touchdowns as San Clemente led 21-7.
On the Tritons’ opening possession, he tossed a 42-yard touchdown to Thomas Alexander on a slant route on third down. Ethan Miller kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
San Clemente opened a 14-0 lead about five minutes into the second quarter on a 4-yard TD run by Granite. Beck help set up the score with a 12-yard completion to Jesse Torres to the 20.
Leuzinger cut San Clemente’s lead to 14-7 late in the first half on an 83-yard touchdown run by Journee Tonga. But the Tritons responded on the next play from scrimmage as Beck tossed a short screen to Carson Sloan for a 55-yard score with 2:58 left in the half.
Beck completed his first eight passes and finished the first half 10 of 11 for 186 yards. He tallied 270 yards for the game. “He’s a sophomore but he’s play like a senior,” Ortiz said of Beck, who wears jersey No. 23.
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