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MISSION HILLS — The Alemany football team caused quite a stir when by making the Division 5 playoffs as an at-large team after a winless Mission League season.
“Surprise, obviously,” coach Casey Clausen said of his reaction to making the cut. “I was excited to get another opportunity to come out and play.”
The Warriors made the most of that opportunity by beating Temecula Valley, 40-14, on Friday night. Jeremiah Claiborne scored four touchdowns in the game and the defense held the Golden Bears scoreless in the second half.
“We needed this win bad,” Claiborne said. “To get us back in the game, for the whole team to feel nice again.”
Temecula Valley (6-5) went into halftime leading 14-7 over an Alemany team with dismal energy.
Claiborne scored the opening touchdown, then Jaden Eddy ran one in for the Golden Bears.
Freshman quarterback Bryson Beaver sent a 20-yard spiral pass sailing over the Alemany defense and into the chest of Matthew Brown for the lead midway through the second quarter.
The Warriors’ sideline was silent. Not even a breeze rustled the cheerleaders’ pom-poms.
John O’Brien recovered a fumble near the end of the third quarter to give Alemany (3-7) a much-needed jolt of energy. Claiborne scored, then the Warriors recovered the kickoff to maintain possession.
Claiborne scored his third touchdown with eight minutes left in the game, then the Alemany defense forced a turnover on downs to set Claiborne up for his fourth touchdown of the night.
“Play faster,” Clausen told his defense at halftime. “It seemed we were kind of a step slow in the first half and up front, thought we played pretty well physically, but we had to play faster.”
Temecula Valley alternated quarterbacks between senior transfer Bryce Dewald and Beaver.
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The Golden Bears finished third in the Big West – Lower League and were ready to play Alemany on Friday, regardless of the playoff situation.
“They play in one of the toughest leagues in Southern California,” coach Bert Esposito said. “Us coaches know that your record means absolutely nothing. It’s who you’re playing.
“Now, them dropping from Division 2 runner-up to Division 5, that’s questionable. But I’m not gonna argue anything, we play who’s put in front of us.”
Alemany advances to the second round to play the winner of Aquinas and Jurupa Hills next week.