Football:
They say defense wins championships.
And while Claremont is still two wins away from a potential CIF-SS Division 9 title, the Wolfpack saw its defense control and frustrate top-seeded Laguna Beach all night.
Claremont thumped the visiting Breakers, 38-7, in the quarterfinal round of the D-9 playoffs.
One week after shutting out undefeated Arroyo, the Wolfpack D took over on Laguna Beach’s first drive.
Zack Leeper picked off a Will Bingham pass and brought it back 40 yards for a 7-0 lead.
On the Breakers second possession, CHS forced and then recovered a fumble.
The Wolfpack quickly turned that into a 14-point lead when Caden Campuzano scored on a 2-yard run.
Campuzano finished with 120 rushing yards on 17 carriesm and that included an 18-yard TD run that extended the Claremont lead to 38-7.
CHS’ Nathan Giles scored on a QB keeper in the second quarter and the Wolfpack junior also booted a 20-yard field goal.
Garrett Sanin had the longest TD of the night, when he sprinted into the west end zone from 54 yards out.
Up next: Claremont will meet up next week with St. Margaret’s.
The Tartans of San Juan Capistrano earned a 38-28 victory at San Dimas.
Box Score:
LB: 0-0-7-0-(7)
C: 17-7-7-7-(38)
Scoring:
C: Zack Leeper 40 interception return (Nathan Giles kick)
C: Caden Campuzano 2 run (Nathan Giles kick)
C: Nathan Giles 20 FG
C: Nathan Giles 1 run (Nathan Giles kick)
LB: Luke Degner 25 pass from Will Bingham (kick good)
C: Garret Sanin 54 run (Nathan Giles kick)
C: Caden Camuzano 18 run (Nathan Giles kick)
Records: Laguna Beach (10-2); Claremont (7-5)
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Division-9 Quarterfinal Scores:
Claremont 38, Laguna Beach 7
St. Margaret’s 38, San Dimas 28
Colony 52, Western 7
Ventura 35, Rancho Mirage 19
Division 9 Semifinals:
Claremont vs St. Margaret’s
Colony vs Ventura
** Locations of the two games aren’t known as of press time.