Mascarenas sparks Mission Viejo romp in opener

WAILUKU, Hawaii - One of the best teams in Orange County was a lot more than one of the best in the state of Hawaii could handle.

In a game that was decided early, Mission Viejo showed no first-game jitters, scoring 41 first-half points and rolling to a 48-21 victory over Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui, on Friday night.

The Bears (1-1), ranked sixth in the state of Hawaii, looked helpless against the Diablos (1-0), who were 4-6-1, including two forfeits, in 2007.

The ease of the victory over a team that went to the Hawaii state semifinals a year ago surprised Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson, who noted that San Clemente defeated Baldwin, 38-15, last year.

"I know the kind of year they (Baldwin) had last year, and San Clemente from our league played them last year and it was a pretty good game," Johnson said. "San Clemente hasn't beaten us in a long time, but they are good.

"We expected a tougher game early, and maybe it could have been without a breakor two, I don't know."

Baldwin coach A.J. Roloos said his team wasn't ready for the speed of the Diablos, who were sparked early by UCLA-bound Alex Mascarenas.

Mascarenas scored three consecutive touchdowns in the first half, the final one coming on a 51-yard punt return that made it 27-0 early in the second quarter.

"That team is everything as advertised," Roloos said. "From what we saw on tape, they are legit. They are a great football team.

"Coach Johnson does a great job with that team. That is why they are ranked 40th in the nation."

Mission Viejo, ranked fourth in the county, took total control from the beginning.

The Diablos rolled to a 41-0 halftime lead by scoring touchdowns on theirfirst five possessions.

Mission Viejo outgained the Bears, 312 yards to 29, in total offense in the first half. TheDiablos piled up 19 first downs to three for the Bears.

Quarterback Allan Bridgford, who has committed to Cal, threw for 207 first-half yards and three touchdowns before halftime.

Bridgford finished 14-for-20 passing, and Kevin Chandler caught eight passes for 138 yards and two scores.

"Chandler can go (to college) anywhere he wants, the schools just have to find him,"Johnson said.

Mascarenas had three catches for 26 yards and two touchdowns, and he returned three punts for 89 yards, including the long score.

"Those three guys are very special," Johnson said of Bridgford, Mascarenasand Chandler. "We were very pleased with our first game. We will have a tonof mistakes (on film) and we will correct them, but I am very pleased."

In the first half, penalties (eight for 80 yards) were about the only obstacle for the Diablos. They finished the game with 11 penalties for 110 yards.

"I didn't like those," Johnson said. "That kind of leaves a bad taste. Wehad three holding penalties, and we will check the film on that stuff. Everypenalty in the world was on us, so I guess we did them."

Mascarenas caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bridgford to culminate a four-play, 58-yard drive that began with a 48-yard pass from Bridford to Chandler.

Mascarenas scored again on a 10-yard pass from Bridgford with 20 seconds left  in the first quarter to make it 21-0. Mascrarenas' punt return for the score came 68seconds later.

Chandler caught 10- and 8-yard scoring passes from Bridgford in the finaleight minutes of the first half.

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Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com