Mission Viejo scores somber victory
The Diablos set a school record with 70 points against Aliso Niguel but Staszak suffers a posible neck injury during the contest.
MISSION VIEJO — A week after laying 60 points on Tesoro in a highly anticipated showdown, second-ranked Mission Viejo went into its South Coast League game Friday looking to maintain the status quo.
It did that easily with a somber 70-7 victory over visiting Aliso Niguel.
Just 1 minute 16 seconds into the game, Mission Viejo defensive back Jake Staszak (5-9, 180) and Aliso’s Anthony Robinson (5-9, 190) were injured. Robinson, the ball carrier, eventually walked off the field with help, but Staszak encountered difficulty breathing as he lay at Robinson’s feet.
Staszak required medical attention from team doctor Mark Legome, who oversaw efforts to keep Staszak from cardiac arrest until paramedics arrived 11 minutes later. The game was delayed 24 minutes before Staszak was transported to Mission Hospital.
“It was really close,” Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said. “Our doctor was right on top of it. It was scary, he was losing consciousness, he couldn’t see. Breathing was really tough.”
Johnson said afterward that a preliminary report was that Staszak had a concussion and a possible fractured vertebra.
The mood never got cheery afterward as the Diablos sent Aliso Niguel (2-6, 0-3) to its 14th consecutive league loss.
Mission’s 70 points were a school record, one more than it scored against Long Beach Jordan in 2005.
Mission Viejo (8-0, 3-0) built a 56-0 halftime lead with scoring drives of three, eight, two, one, seven, one, two and two plays. It plays rival San Clemente next before finishing against No. 5 Dana Hills.
Dallas Kessman scored three times, on runs of 36, 50 and 40 yards. He finished with six carries for 144 yards, all by halftime.
Exavier Edwards scored on first-half runs of 3 and 19 yards, and a 15-yard reception from Dallin McEwen that gave Mission a 7-0 lead 67 seconds into the game. Edwards had six carries for 56 yards.
McEwen completed six of eight passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yarder to Bryan Keller.
At halftime, Mission Viejo had outgained Aliso Niguel, 394-33.
Mission Viejo safety/running back Jake Marshall (shoulder) and Aliso Niguel tailback Jason Long (concussion) didn’t play.
