OCVarsity’s preview and prediction for Friday’s semifinal:
WEST VALLEY DIVISION
Mission Viejo (12-0) vs. Chino Hills (10-2)
Where, when: Chino Hills, 7:30 p.m.
Live coverage: nfhsnetwork.com
Outlook: The top-seeded defending champion Diablos face a fourth-seeded Huskies team that beat fellow West Valley semifinalist Rancho Cucamonga, 24-10, en route to the Baseline League title. That’s the same Rancho Cucamonga that bounced Mission Viejo’s top rival, Tesoro, 53-28, last week. “Just shows you the strength of that league,” Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said of the Baseline. Chino Hills has won eight consecutive games since a 63-28 loss at Pac-5 Division semifinalist Bishop Amat. Since that Sept. 18 game, the Huskies’ defense has performed much better, holding teams to about 16.5 points per game. Defense and special teams helped Chino Hills beat Valencia of Valencia, 16-14, last week. Chino Hills’ defense is led by defensive end William Hackenberg. Johnson said the Huskies have relied on the blitz at times but opted against the strategy in other games. “They like their defense a lot and they should,” Johnson said. “They seem like a real well-coached team.” Senior Grady O’Donnell paced Chino Hills’ offense last week with 146 yards rushing. Mission Viejo extended its winning streak to 24 games last week in a 42-21 victory against Murrieta Valley. The Diablos and quarterback Brock Johnson are averaging about 44.5 points. Brock Johnson has tossed for almost 2,800 yards, but the Diablos’ attack is again balanced. Colin Schooler rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns last week while Isaiah Miller leads the team in rushing with 960 yards. Johnson was sharp last week, completing 15 of 20 attempts for 272 yards. If the Diablos win, they will be the visiting team against either Vista Murrieta or Rancho Cucamonga in the finals.
Prediction: Mission Viejo.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
