Mission Viejo reclaims South Coast throne

MISSION VIEJO Second-ranked Mission Viejo regained the South Coast League throne with a resounding 49-17 victory over No. 4 Dana Hills for the league championship Friday night at Mission Viejo High.

The Dolphins were trying to win their first league title, but the Diablos scored 28 points in the second quarter to turn what started out as a back-and-forth affair into a rout.

The Diablos won six consecutive South Coast League titles from 2000-06 before Tesoro took over and won league championships in 2007 and 2008. Mission Viejo finished the regular season with a 10-0 overall mark and a 5-0 record in league.

The Diablos guaranteed themselves a home game in the first round of the Pac-5 playoffs against a No. 3 or No. 4 team from another league.

Dana Hills finished 8-2 overall and 4-1 in league to take second place. San Clemente rallied to beat Capistrano Valley, 27-24, to clinch third. Tesoro defeated Aliso Niguel, 56-14, to get its overall record to 5-5, making the Titans eligible to petition for an at-large berth.

The Dolphins had the edge early when they drove down the field on their first possession and took a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Brenden Beckley.

Mission Viejo finally found its rhythm on offense late in the first quarter, but it took some help from the defense to provide the spark.

Jake Marshall, who plays defensive back primarily, got things going with a 15-yard run. Tre Madden, who is the Diablos' top linebacker, took a snap out of the shotgun formation and bolted 36 yards to the Dana Hills 17 on the final play of the first quarter.

Three plays later, Exavier Edwards scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Diablos a 7-3 lead.

The Dolphins responded as Josh Dean hit Zach Alario over the middle. Alario shed his defender and went 80 yards for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt was blocked by the Diablos, but Dana Hills had a 9-7 lead.

A late hit on the ensuing kick return had the Diablos at midfield to start their next drive. Edwards broke a 29-yard run to get Mission Viejo into the red zone, and two plays later he scored on a 5-yard run for a 14-9 advantage that the Diablos would not relinquish.

Marc Millan scored on a 25-yard reverse and Joey Branker made a spectacular run after a short pass from Dallin McEwen, criss-crossing the field for a 64-yard touchdown. That made it 28-9 at halftime. Branker finished with seven catches for 167 yards.

Edwards scored on a 41-yard burst up the middle on Mission Viejo's first play from scrimmage in the second half, and Jahleel Pinner added a 24-yard touchdown run for the Diablos in the third quarter.

The Dolphins never had a chance to regroup or recover. It was all Mission Viejo the rest of the way.

Edwards, who finished with 135 yards on 11 carries, added his fourth touchdown on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Diablos held the Dolphins to 53 yards rushing the first half.