Skip to content
Author

BAKERSFIELD – What a difference a year makes.

Facing one of two teams that beat it in a championship 2014 season, Mission Viejo thumped Liberty of Bakersfield 27-14 in a nonleague game Saturday night.

Brock Johnson threw two touchdown passes and Isaiah Miller ran for two touchdowns as the Diablos (2-0) jumped to a 27-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

Johnson finished 7 of 13 for 168 yards, and Miller ran for 143 on 27 carries. Liberty scored twice in the second half, but Mission Viejo never had its lead truly threatened.

Mission Viejo, ranked No. 2 in the county in the Register’s preseason poll, was coming off a season-opening victory over Baldwin of Maui, 63-7, on Aug. 22.

The Diablos’ first drive Saturday stalled when Johnson threw an interception on the goal line to the Patriots’ Zach Griffin, but Mission Viejo’s defense held, and a short punt gave it the ball back at the Liberty 31. Three plays later, Johnson hit Austin Osborne for a 24-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead. It was Osborne’s fourth touchdown catch of the season.

The Johnson-to-Osborne connection set up the Diablos’ second touchdown in the second quarter; they connected for 28 yards to set up a 1-yard Miller touchdown run.

On Mission Viejo’s next possession, Johnson hit a streaking Jason Lee down the left sideline for a 53-yard touchdown and a 20-0 lead.

Miller made it 27-0 with a 35-yard run in the third quarter.

Liberty scored on a 5-yard screen pass from Jordan Love to Quincy Jountti, and on Love’s 1-yard sneak with 7:16 remaining. At that point, Love left the game with what appeared to be a head injury. Liberty didn’t gain another first down.