Football: Edwards is X Factor for Mission Viejo

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Exavier Edwards was the X Factor for Mission Viejo in its 40-14 rout of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

The Diablos’ senior running back had 155 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries and led a ground attack that had the Notre Dame defense exhausted by halftime. Jake Marshall added two short scoring runs, Tre Madden had 49 yards in six carries and Michael Connell electrified the crowd with an 88-yard touchdown run in garbage time.

Dallin McEwen had an efficient game at quarterback, completing 9 of 13 pass attempts for 118 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown to Maurice Green. Green had four receptions for 58 yards and Marshall added three catches for 37 yards as Mission Viejo raced to a 34-0 lead and never looked back.

Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf was pressured all night, completing 14 of 23 passes for 123 yards. He scored the Knights’ first touchdown on a sneak and his 35-yard run set up Jacob Smith’s 2-yard score with just over four minutes left.

Tyler Thomas had six catches for 59 yards for Notre Dame, but leading rusher Kenneth Boggs never got on track, finishing with just 17 yards on 10 carries.

-- Steve Galluzzo