McClymonds football returns to state title game
Warriors score seven rushing touchdowns to beat Lemoore for North Regional crown
McClymonds High School defeated visiting Lemoore High 49-35 on Friday night in the CIF Division II-AA North Regional, earning a chance to repeat as state champions. McClymonds will face Mater Dei Catholic-Chula Vista, winners over Downey High in the South Regional, for the state title.
“We definitely want to go back to back,” said Warriors quarterback Deontae Faison, who had two rushing touchdowns in the victory. “I just want to stay disciplined, keep getting on my teammates and making sure they’re doing their job in the weight room. And making sure they’re eating right, drinking right, doing all of the good stuff.”
McClymonds is making its sixth consecutive trip to a state title game, having won four of its previous five trips including a 54-7 rout of Birmingham-Lake Balboa for last season’s Division III-A title.
On Friday at McClymonds, Lemoore scored first on a 61-yard passing touchdown on its opening drive. McClymonds took control in the second quarter with running back Jaivian Thomas tying the score on a 39-yard rushing touchdown and Faison taking the 14-7 lead on a sneak. With less than a minute to go in the first half, Thomas scored on a 50-yard run for a 21-14 lead.
McClymonds continued its offensive prowess in the second half, scoring four more rushing touchdowns. Thomas’ last touchdown came with less than a minute left in the second half, on a 65-yard run, to make the final score 49-35. Thomas led McClymonds’ offense with 307 yards on 22 rushing attempts and four touchdowns. Miller had a touchdown with 131 yards rushing on 10 attempts.
McClymonds took control on the other side of the ball, with the defense putting up four sacks and an interception against Lemoore’s pass-heavy offense. Jaysen Cole had two sacks. An interception from Miller helped McClymonds limit Lemoore’s offensive attack, which averaged 45.4 points per game and was the No. 43 best in California.
McClymonds plays Mater Dei Catholic (10-4 record) in the CIF Division II-AA State Championship Game at Saddleback College on Friday, Dec. 9th. McClymonds is looking to repeat as state champion.
McClymonds in state championship games
Div. V-A, Dec. 17, 2016: McClymonds 20, La Jolla Country Day 17 (at La Jolla)
Div. V-AA, Dec. 16, 2017: McClymonds 42, Golden West-Visalia 12 (Visalia Community Stadium)
Div. IV-A, Dec. 15, 2018: McClymonds 32, Garfield-Los Angeles 6 (Laney College-Oakland)
Div. II-A, Dec. 13, 2019: Pacifica-Oxnard 34, McClymonds 6 (Cerritos College)
Div. III-A, Dec. 11, 2021: McClymonds 54, Birmingham-Lake Balboa 7 (at McClymonds)
Maximillian Espinoza (Oakland High) writes for OAL & Fam1st Media. The OUSD students receive media and journalism training through the Fam1st Family Foundation in partnership with the Oakland Athletic League.