Nelson, Clemons score big in Paloma Valley's 28-17 victory

Arthur Clemons (4) leads the Wildcats onto the field for the start of the game. (Photo by Elizabeth Beres)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Juan Merida era got off to a good start Friday night at Paloma Valley High, thanks to the Brady Nelson – Arthur Clemons show and a big supporting cast.

Nelson passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns, Clemons caught 9 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense provided consistent play in a 28-17 victory over Temescal Canyon. It was a satisfying victory for Merida, a former Paloma Valley assistant coach making his head coaching debut.

“The offense and defense both played well,” Merida said. “We made some penalties, but a lot of teams do the first week. I told the guys those things will take care of themselves. I’m proud of them.”

It was not a surprise to see a big passing performance from Nelson, who threw for more than 2,300 yards last season. He calmly led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, enabling the Wildcats to fight back from a 17-12 deficit. And although Clemons’ big receiving night was impressive for a sophomore in his coming-out party, it was no surprise to Merida nor Nelson, who have seen his act in practice.

“He’s a 22-foot long jumper with a lot of talent,” Merida said. “He came up at the end of last year from the freshman team and made some big plays.”

Nelson said he knew Clemons was going to be a good one even when he was playing on the freshman team last season.

“Arthur is an athlete,” Nelson said. “He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen. He’s so young, too. He’s going to be really good.

“Against Vista Del Lago last year he made a one-handed catch, and from that moment on … even as a freshman, I knew he was going to be very good. He’s a playmaker.”

The Nelson-Clemons connection accounted for both Paloma Valley touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the Wildcats a 12-0 lead. The first was a 49-yard scoring pass to the left corner of the end zone, showing the ability of both players to be in sync. Two possessions later, on fourth down, Nelson hit Clemons with a 27-yard strike to the same spot on the field and a two-touchdown lead.

The Titans weren’t finished, however. They came up with a 28-yard field goal by Brian Matthew in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 12-10 two plays into the third period.

Jeremiah Mays took the second-half kickoff back 77 yards for the Titans, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Michael Lee. The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions, then Paloma Valley drove from its own 30-yard line to the Temescal Canyon 3, where Rick Terry’s 22-yard reception fell just short of the needed yardage for a score. The third period ended 12-10 in favor of the Wildcats.

It didn’t take long for that to change. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Lee hit Cole Thompson on an 80-yard pass play for a Temescal Canyon touchdown. The extra point gave the visitors their first lead at 17-12.

That’s when Nelson and his offense took over. With help from a pass interference call, the Wildcats moved to midfield, where a 2-yard run by Justin Dean and an 8-yard pass from Nelson to Clemons set up a Wildcat scoring play. It came on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Villagomez, who caught the ball at the 20, spun away from a defender and raced into the end zone. A two-point PAT give Paloma the lead back at 20-17.

The Wildcats defense and the bounce of the football spelled doom for Temescal Canyon on the next series. After a 4-yard loss, a bad snap rolled past Lee and was recovered for a 12-yard loss. Lee then threw an incomplete pass. And on fourth down, rather than punt, Lee kept the ball and was stopped short of the first-down marker.

Given the ball on the Temescal Canyon 27-yard line, Paloma took advantage. Seven plays later, Damian Ramirez ran 3 yards for a touchdown and, after another 2-point PAT, a 28-17 lead. Ramirez finished with 13 carries for 91 yards.

Jacob Villagomez heads down the sideline with a reception for Paloma Valley. (Photo by Elizabeth Beres)

The Wildcat offensive line played a strong game throughout. (Photo by Elizabeth Beres)

 

Jayden Epps leads the cheers as the players run onto the field on Friday. (Photo by Elizabeth Beres)