By John Klima
Daily Breeze

As time expired, Jimmy Clausen ran off the field with a dozen cameramen chasing him. He later deflected questions about his ordinary performance, like he was a 300-pound tackle throwing bodies around instead of the countrys most lauded high school quarterback. His post-game press conference later had more clichis than he had passing yards.

Clausen declined to say that he was frustrated with his own performance, or that Oaks Christian had failed to live up to its reputation as the perhaps the best high school football team ever assembled.

Oaks Christian got its CIF Division III State Football Championship title, but not a crown with conviction. Clausen, the Notre Dame-bound senior and the nations consensus top recruit, passed for only 94 yards and threw three interceptions in the first half, as many as he had thrown in 258 attempts.

Oaks nearly succumbed to Cardinal Newman of Santa Rose and its deliberate offense that took yardage inch-by-inch, but skill finally beat strategy. Marshall Jones rushed for a seven-yard touchdown in overtime and Newman quarterback Ryan Lingles final two pass attempts fell incomplete as Clausen and Oaks Christian escaped with a 27-20 victory before 5,000 Saturday at Home Depot Center.

They were supposed to be the top team in the nation, said Lingle, who led a Newman offensive effort that eclipsed Oaks in every category but the final score. No one gave us a shot to even stay with them.

Oaks Christian (15-0) extended its winning streak to 46 games, tying a Southern California record. The Lions won Californias first state title awarded since 1927 and became the first California team to go 15-0 since 1992.

But its season of playing small-school competition that rarely posed a threat seemed to catch up to it. Clausen saw a faster, disciplined defense close up his passing lanes and frequently hurry him. Flustered, his passes went astray. His demeanor on the sidelines was not one of a cant-miss-kid, but one of a kid pouting.

With USC-bound tailback Marc Tyler on crutches because of the season-ending broken foot that he suffered four weeks ago, Clausen passed for only 67 yards in the first half and threw three interceptions. Though Newman (13-2) trailed 13-10 at halftime  thanks only to a 64-yard interception return by Malcolm Jones, the freshman brother of senior Marshall  Newman proved it could compete.

Newmans first-half scoring drives of 15 plays and 70 yards and 11 plays and 40 yards took its tool on Oaks, which had 11 Division I seniors to Newmans one.

I didnt play the best game I played in the first half, Clausen said. I just needed to calm down. I was uptight.

Newman controlled the clock for 34 minutes, leaving Oaks with only 13 minutes. They out gained Oaks 282-233 and ran nearly twice as many plays, 83-45. Oaks also committed nine penalties for 110 yards.

Newman led 17-13 with 6:08 to play in the third quarter after another 15-play drive, but it didnt have enough to finish its drives in the fourth quarter. It was the first time Oaks had trailed in three years.

We should have won that game by 14 points, Newman coach Paul Cronin lamented.

Lingle (14-of-29, 116 yards, one touchdown, one interception) was sacked to end a lengthy drive early in the fourth quarter. Oaks pulled ahead, 20-17, on its next possession when Marshall Jones (14 carries, 82 yards) scored to complete a nine-play drive in which Clausen passed and ran for a pair of first downs.

Newman had one more grueling drive remaining, going 19 plays and 72 yards in a 5:30 span, allowing Ellio Torrano to kick a 29-yard field goal and tie the game, 20-20, with 31 seconds to play.

But in an overtime situation where speed and quickness on four plays from the 10-yard line would determine the championship, Oaks excelled, with Marshall Jones running both plays and scoring the winning touchdown on Oaks second play, his third score of the game.

Clausen, Californias record holder for career touchdown passes, left the field with plans to be fitted for his fourth championship ring.

A reporter who covered him closely during his high school career in Ventura County called Clausen the cockiest athlete (he) ever covered, but conceded that Clausens success also stems from his ability to ignore the world beyond the field.