Mission Viejo Takes Hard Road
The Southland's No. 1 team wins opener, 55-21, over Los Alamitos, the first of highly ranked foes for Diablos as they prepare for anticipated playoff run.
By Martin Henderson, Times Staff Writer
The Mission Viejo High football team is ranked No. 1 in the Southland and this much seems certain: If the Diablos finish there, they'll have earned it.
Mission Viejo's schedule is every bit as tough as the Diablos are good, starting with Thursday's regionally televised season opener against Los Alamitos that they won, 55-21.
Los Alamitos, another perennial power, entered the game ranked No. 3 in the Southland and from here it doesn't get much easier for either team.
Next up for Mission Viejo is No. 14 Santa Ana Mater Dei, then Huntington Beach Marina, followed by No. 2 Long Beach Poly and, last on the nonleague schedule, Concord De La Salle, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation and had won a record 151 games consecutively before dropping its opener last week against Bellevue, Wash.
The loss by De La Salle surely disappointed Mission Viejo players and coaches — the Diablos wanted to be the ones to end the streak — but if they were down at all it didn't show against Los Alamitos.
Mark Sanchez was solid at quarterback, but Chane Moline stole the show by rushing 16 times for 276 and four touchdowns on runs of one, two, 46 and 52 yards. He also caught an 11-yard touchdown pass, one of two receptions for 31 yards. The Diablos rolled up 580 yards of offense and scored on seven of their first eight possessions.
Moline, who also carried for a two-point conversion, dominated the first half. At one point in the second quarter, he had successive carries of 52, 61 and 40 yards and had 221 yards rushing in 12 carries.
Sanchez completed 10 of 15 passes for 196 yards and touchdowns of 29, 11 and 30 yards, the latter providing a 48-14 lead in the third quarter.
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