MISSION VIEJO – Under the tutelage of Coach Bob Johnson, Mission Viejo has been one of the strongest football programs in Orange County.
Even though the third-ranked Diablos returned just six starters this season, it appeared as there were going to be ample players ready to step up and field a powerful squad.
But the strongest team happened to be on the visiting sideline Friday, as Liberty of Bakersfield earned a hard-fought 18-7 victory against host Mission Viejo in a nonleague game in the Mission Viejo Classic.
“We just didn’t play really well on either side of the ball,” Johnson said. “I’d rather give them (Liberty) the credit.”
Trailing, 12-7, late in the game, Diablos running back Isaiah Miller picked up 21 and 10 yards on two consecutive runs to get Mission Viejo to the Patriots’ 18.
Miller fumbled the ball on the next snap, though, and Liberty’s Stavros Katsantonis picked it up and returned it 70 yards for the game-sealing and back-breaking touchdown with 2:09 remaining.
The Patriots victory snapped the Diablos ‘streak of 24 consecutive regular-season wins.
“First time we’ve lost a game here at this stadium or anywhere in a long time,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to regroup and be ready to play.”
Mission Viejo’s lone score came on the first play of the fourth quarter when junior quarterback Brock Johnson found receiver Connor Hill for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Diablos a 7-6 lead.
There were plenty of other opportunities for Mission Viejo to score, but it came up empty each time.
Tony Williams fumbled the ball, as the Diablos (0-1) were 6 yards away from a touchdown in the third. Williams was hurt on the play, with an apparent knee injury and didn’t return to the game.
Mission Viejo also turned it over on downs in the first half when it made it all the way to the Liberty 11.
The Patriots (1-0) took the lead for good in the fourth quarter when Anthony Mariscal, an Arizona commit, plunged over the goal line for his second score. The score gave Liberty a 12-7 lead.
Brock Johnson was inconsistent in his debut, as he completed 16 of 35 passes with 209 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Both offenses struggled in the first half, but Liberty went on a three-play, 51-yard drive, which ended with a 31-yard touchdown scamper by Mariscal.
Mariscal took the ball out of the Wildcat formation, followed his blockers down the left sideline and fell into the end zone with 42 seconds left.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
