Taking Care of No. 1

It was only appropriate. Mission Viejo took on the toughest competition it could find this season. Los Alamitos. Santa Ana Mater Dei. Long Beach Poly. Concord De La Salle.

By choice, the Diablos played four nonleague teams ranked in the top 10 in the state.

On Saturday at Angel Stadium, Mission Viejo’s final opponent -- No. 7 Valencia -- came by assignment in the Southern Section Division II championship game.

Mission Viejo completed its perfect season in resounding fashion with a dominant performance in a 49-21 victory over Valencia, its third Division II title in four years.

Mission Viejo (14-0), which was unbeaten before losing last year’s final to Newhall Hart, started the season at No. 1 in the Southland and will finish it No. 1 in the state. As for mythical titles, the Diablos are still No. 2 nationally in the Student Sports magazine ranking after Southlake (Texas) Carroll beat previously undefeated Lufkin, 37-30, in a state 5A Division II semifinal on Saturday at Baylor University.

“We definitely tried to come out and win big,” said Moline, whose brother, Chase, is the only two-way starter for the Diablos. “We knew they couldn’t go four quarters. They’re small, we’re smash-mouth.”

The Vikings became another notch on the Diablos’ belt, an 11th team among 14 opponents that they scored on with their first or second possession.

Any thoughts Valencia (12-2) had of an upset had to be distant midway through the second quarter. Mission Viejo had gone up, 21-0, and had yet to allow an opponent more than 21 points this season.

With too much balance for its opponents to handle this season, Mission Viejo struck by land and air Saturday. Mark Sanchez passed for a 53-yard touchdown, Chane Moline ran for three scores before halftime and finished with five touchdown runs, of one, three, 19, five and one yard.

By the time they finished -- the reserves officially took over with 7 minutes 3 seconds remaining -- the Diablo starters had piled up 431 yards and 49 points against a team whose only other loss was to Division III champion Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 33-3.

Although Notre Dame was also a physical team, Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said there were other factors that played into that contest.

The only factor that played into this one was Mission Viejo. Sanchez completed 12 of 19 passes for 181 yards. Moline rushed 23 times for 115 yards. The defense finished with six sacks of Herrick, who passed for 350 yards, going over 4,000 in the season, and two touchdowns. He had 216 yards through three quarters and trailed, 42-7.

Garrett Rubio, Chris Holmesly and Will Taylor each intercepted a Herrick pass. The latter two set up touchdowns -- Holmesly’s 52-yard return set up a three-yard drive that made it 21-0.

“The only way you can put it is they’re an all-star team,” Stiman said. “They’re the best team I’ve seen in 24 years of coaching. We played Dana Hills, San Clemente ... teams from their league, and they didn’t have any players like that.

“They’re the best team in the state of California with all the best players.”

The obvious question: Will the Diablos be as good next year?

“No,” said Bret Johnson, assistant coach and son of Coach Bob Johnson. “But we’ll be good.”

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Earning It

In completing a 14-0 season, Mission Viejo had to defeat six teams that were in The Times’ final regular-season rankings, as well as the nation’s most storied program from Northern California. A look at the Diablos’ top opponents, and the margin of Mission Viejo’s victories:

*--* No. 3 Los Alamitos (Division I runner-up) 34 No. 4 Long Beach Poly (Division I champion) 27 No. 5 Valencia (Division II runner-up) 28 No. 6 Mater Dei (Serra League co-champion) 7 No. 20 Hart (2003 Division II champion) 30 No. 23 San Clemente (Division II semifinalist) 48 Concord De La Salle (North Coast 4-A champion) 3

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