OCEANSIDE – Following last week’s loss, Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson couldn’t pinpoint what went wrong for his team.
Well, it was pretty cut and dry as to what happened to his team this week.
Oceanside was better in all phases of the game and dominated the No. 6 Diablos in a 24-7 victory in an Honor Bowl matchup at Oceanside High.
The Pirates broke the game open in the second quarter when they scored two big-play touchdowns.
First, running back Josh Bernard burst through a gap in the Mission Viejo defense for a 55-yard scoring scamper.
Later in the quarter, luck was on Oceanside’s side when quarterback Matthew Romero launched a pass only to be deflected by the Diablos’ A’brae Booker-Currin.
The pass took a surprising bounce off Booker-Currin’s hands and right into the gloves of the Pirates’ Johnny Arzola, who took it to the end zone for a 33-yard score. That touchdown put Oceanside (2-0) ahead by three scores, 21-0, with 7:58 left in the first half.
The Diablos (0-2) struggled offensively for the second consecutive week. In his second varsity start, junior quarterback Brock Johnson turned in an uneven performance
Johnson completed 8 of 29 passes for 77 yards. The Diablos weren’t able to get on the board until 3:56 was left in the third.
Peyton Marshall ran for a 5-yard score to bring Mission Viejo within 14 points. That was just the Diablos’ second offensive touchdown in as many games this season.
Isaiah Miller did have a solid game for Mission Viejo at running back. Miller rushed for 85 yards on 21 carries. The Diablos didn’t throw the ball for much of the second half and instead opted to stick with the ground game.
The loss means Mission Viejo is riding a three-game losing streak. Mater Dei beat the Diablos in the playoffs last season, and Liberty of Bakersfield upset them last week.
The last time Mission Viejo had lost two consecutive regular season games was 2007, when it dropped back-to-back contests to Vista and Concord De La Salle.
The Diablos will attempt to snap their three-game losing skid next week when it hosts La Habra, who defeated South Hills of West Covina, 61-0, on Friday.
Mission Viejo defeated La Habra, 46-21, last season.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
