Mission Viejo capitalizes on turnovers to pull away from Norco, 37-13

Mission Viejo Coach Bob Johnson can’t really understand the lack of college attention for his quarterback, Brock, who also happens to be his grandson.

Bob Johnson acknowledges the family tie but called the younger Johnson “amazing, and not because he’s my grandson.”

Brock Johnson made his grandfather justified in his praise for much of Friday in a 37-13 win against Norco.

He threw three passes for touchdowns, the last a 75-yard toss to Zack Taylor that helped seal an impressive nonleague win by the Diablos, ranked 11th in the Southland, against the No.10 Cougars.

Brock Johnson completed 15 of 25 passes for 278 yards in Mission Viejo’s 17th straight win. He has been at the helm for all 17, so winning must seem old hat by now.

“I don’t know about business as usual,” Bob Johnson said. “It’s a great game. We’ll look at film, but Brock played outstanding.”

Brock Johnson and the Diablos overshadowed Norco and quarterback Victor Viramontes, a Michigan commit who also plays linebacker.

Viramontes threw two passes for interceptions and Norco also lost a fumble. Viramontes had 272 yards passing, threw for a touchdown and ran for another but Norco was frustrated by turnovers, particularly a fumble on its second possession of the second half.

“Every time we got momentum, we turned over the football,” Norco Coach Chuck Chastain said. “It’s a pretty simple recipe for disaster.”

Mission Viejo played the fifth game of a non-league schedule that included games in Bakersfield and Hawaii. Fatigue would have been understandable for the Diablos, but they converted the two first-half interceptions for a 20-0 lead.

Brock Johnson rolled left and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Austin Osborne on fourth down and later found Olaijah Griffin open in back of the end zone for a 20-yard score.

Norco was coming off a bye week, after a tough, close win against Rancho Cucamonga.

The Cougars took nearly the whole first half to start clicking on offense.

Viramontes directed a late-scoring drive with a scrambling, nine-yard touchdown pass to Travis Dye.

Mission Viejo played without injured running back Isaiah Miller for the second straight game.