NORCO – Junior Brock Johnson threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mission Viejo to a 49-21 nonleague victory over host Norco on Friday night.
Johnson, grandson of Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson, connected on second-half scores of 50 and 64 yards, helping the Diablos (2-2) play a nearly mistake-free game.
In contrast, Norco (1-2) struggled with team discipline, committing more than a dozen penalties and turning the ball over multiple times.
“That’s a well-coached, good football team,” Norco coach Chuck Chastain said of the Diablos. “You can’t expect a good result with and the mental mistakes we made tonight.
“Obviously we’re a young team still trying to find ourselves.”
Mission Viejo came out fast against the Cougars. The Diablos jumped to a 21-0 first quarter lead. Johnson opened the scoring with a 43-yard screen pass to Cole Young. Junior Isaiah Miller closed out the quarter with touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards.
Norco answered in the second with a 13-play, 88-yard drive that was capped by Gaven Hughes‘ 2-yard touchdown run that capped the first half scoring.
After the two teams exchanged possessions at the start of the third quarter, Norco cut into the Diablos’ lead when quarterback Victor Viramontes raced around the right side 45 yards on a keeper to cut the lead to 21-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Mission Viejo ended the Cougars’ celebration when junior Andrew Wilk returned the kick 85 yards for a touchdown to regain control. From there, Norco fell apart and the Diablos took advantage, scoring three times in the fourth to pull away with the win.
“That’s a tough team we just beat,” Johnson said. “We’re happy with the outcome but there is still work to get done going forward.”
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