MISSION VIEJO – Heading into its Week 1 game against defending CIF-SS Eastern Division champion Oak Hills of Hesperia, Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson was hoping for a repeat of last week’s performance.
The No. 2 Diablos were close. Mission Viejo scored on its first six possessions of the ballgame to secure a 42-28 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday at Mission Viejo High.
The Bulldogs (1-1) held tough, initially, and had a 21-19 lead early in the second quarter, but the Diablos’ defense kicked in and kept Oak Hills scoreless until the fourth quarter.
“They did really well. They had some good schemes and their quarterback is tough,” Johnson said. “That’s a good team we just beat.”
Mission Viejo (2-0) scored on all five of its first-half possessions, and the Diablos established the ground game with a pair of big touchdown runs by Colin Schooler (54 yards) and Jamari Ferrell (36 yards).
Ferrell led the Diablos with 100 yards rushing on 15 carries. Schooler added 93 yards on 10 carries.
Oak Hills’ defensive line got penetration against the run on Mission Viejo’s first drive and forced McDonald out of the pocket multiple times in the first half. The senior quarterback didn’t mind as he hit receivers while throwing on the run.
McDonald threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns on 14 of 22 passing. He scored a rushing touchdown in the second half.
Down 21-19 in the second quarter, McDonald led the Diablos on back-to-back touchdown drives with a 51-yard strike to Austin Osborne and a 12-yard pass to Olaijah Griffin.
After both scores, McDonald converted two-point conversion passes to Osborne.
Oak Hills quarterback Brandon Porter passed for 115 yards and rushed for 79 in the first half.
Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com
