DANA POINT - After a decade of misery at the hands of Mission Viejo, the one thing Dana Hills had going into its South Coast league game Friday against the Diablos was hope.

With a big-time quarterback and a high-scoring offense, this was the Dolphins’ chance to finally purge years worth of heartache.

Yet Mission Viejo’s 45-31 victory was more gut-wrenching than the others.

Dana Hills hadn’t beaten Mission Viejo since 1998 when the Dolphins won, 28-27. Then the Bob Johnson era arrived at Mission Viejo.

Over the last five seasons, the Diablos outscored Dana Hills, 244-44.

With a game against undefeated Tesoro next week and playing for its playoff life, the inspired Dolphins (5-4, 2-2) scored 17 points in the first 10 minutes. Then came the reality of Mission Viejo’s tradition.

The Diablos (8-1, 3-1) scored 31 points before halftime, including 10 in the final minute with Kassius Boswell’s 44-yard field goal as time expired.

It couldn’t have gone any better for Dana Hills, then couldn’t have gone any worse. Jake Marshall rushed 28 times for 136 yards and touchdowns of 23, 1 and 2 yards as Mission scored 24 second-quarter points.

Duke-bound quarterback Sean Schroederof Dana Hills completed four of his first eight passes for 81 yards. Dana Hills opened a 17-0 lead, on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Pete Adams, a 3-yard scoring run by Dylan Denso and a 25-yard field goal by Brenden Beckley.

Cal-bound Allan Bridgford threw two interceptions among his first five passes for Mission Viejo, both leading to scores. However, he finished 15 of 26 for 266 yards.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com