OC’s (Intersectional) Game of the Week

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Concord De La Salle at Mission Viejo, 8 p.m. Saturday, FSN Prime Ticket

Mission Viejo, coming off a stunning 26-14 intersectional loss to Vista, is looking to rebound in a big way but it doesn’t figure to be easy. De La Salle, ranked No. 3 in the state by CalHiSports.com, is California’s most storied program.

DLS dominated last year’s game, a 35-28 victory, and is even better this season. The Spartans (3-0) have outscored their opponents 150-36, and have had halftime leads of 34-0 over San Mateo Serra, 41-0 over Loyola and 41-0 over Salinas Palma.

‘This is the best De La Salle team we’ve played, in our opinion,’ Mission Viejo Coach Bob Johnson (pictured right) said. ‘I don’t know how good we are. We haven’t shown a real consistent, full game yet.’

For Mission Viejo to have any chance, it must establish a running game through Craig Woods to eat the clock and create better passing opportunities for Allan Bridgford. But it’s going to need a big defensive effort too; it can’t afford to fall behind by 41 points at halftime. The way it has played thus far, it can’t afford to fall behind by 14, either.

Not only does DLS run the veer to perfection, Mike MacGillivray is 19 of 21 for 452 yards, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

Mission Viejo leads the series, 2-1. They won’t play next season because De La Salle is joining a league, but Johnson expects the teams to resume the series in 2009.

- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times