Tesoro claims title in an upset

MISSION VIEJO - Unranked Tesoro scored two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes Friday night to post the upset Mission Viejo’s South Coast League foes had been seeking for eight seasons.

Running back Ferras Albitar scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 22 seconds left as the Titans completed multiple comebacks and a stunning 28-24 victory against the No. 8 Diablos at Mission Viejo.

The victory gave Tesoro (7-3, 5-0) the league title but also a few other accolades.

The Titans became the first league team to defeat Mission Viejo since San Clemente did it in 1999. The Diablos had won seven consecutive league crowns with 5-0 records.

Tesoro’s sideline erupted after quarterback Allan Bridgford’s pass fell incomplete near midfield on the final play.

"Amazing," first-year Tesoro coach Brian Barnes said."I really believed in my heart that we had a good chance to win this thing … (we’re) resilient."

Mission Viejo (6-3-1) and San Clemente ended tied with 3-1-1 records in league and tied in their game so a coin-flip today will determine the second and third-place playoff entries.

The Titans, who received votes in this week’s county poll, trailed, 24-14, with 10:31 left in the fourth after Craig Woods scored on a 13-yard run and Warren Reuland grabbed a gutsy 82-point conversion just inside the goal line.

But the Titans countered with a 28-yard TD pass by Robbie Picazo to Brett Gudim to cap an 80-yard drive with 7:32 left.  Mission Viejo had a chance to land a huge blow on its ensuing possession but a 49-yard touchdown pass to Reuland was nullified by a holding penalty with 6:09 left.

"That’s the way it goes," Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said of the call."Tough game for us."

Tesoro forced a punt and then drove from its 22 with 4:27 left for the go-ahead score. A key play was on fourth-and-2 from the Diablos 44. Picazo lofted a 21-yard completion to Chad Garrett, a standout outside linebacker who made his first reception of the season."Maybe his life," Barnes said.

Tesoro scored five plays later and completed a turnaround from 0-5 last season to 5-0 this season.

"We had total confidence coming into this knowing that we could beat them," said senior Harold Williams, who scored twice for the Titans.

Mission Viejo took a 16-14 lead with late in the third, kicking a 20-yard field goal instead of going it on fourth-and-1 at the Titans 2-yard line.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com