South Coast League : Brasses Shine; Mission Viejo Polished Off

The Brass brothers made the big plays Friday night for El Toro High School in a 24-17 win over Mission Viejo in front of 5,500 fans in Mission Viejo Stadium.

Sophomore defensive back Adam Brass intercepted a pass in his end zone on the final play of the game to seal the victory after older brother, Eric, had scored the winning touchdown to earn the upset for El Toro.

The victory also gave the Chargers (4-1 in league play, 6-3 overall) sole possession of first place in the South Coast League and a victory next week against San Clemente would clinch their fourth league title in the past five years.

This is El Toro’s second year competing in the South Coast League, having been switched, along with Irvine, from the Sea View League.

Mission Viejo (3-1-1, 7-1-1) fell into a second-place tie with Capistrano Valley in the seven-team league and finishes its season against Irvine next week.

It was a night of comebacks and rallies as El Toro faced a 10-0 deficit in the second quarter and then watched its 17-10 lead disappear in the last quarter before gaining the victory. In the end, it was Brass who ended any chance of a Mission Viejo win when he intercepted Diablo quarterback Brendan Murphy’s pass in the end zone.

A long line of fans was stretched through the Mission Viejo parking lot to purchase tickets an hour before game time and a standing-room-only crowd filled the stands, lined the fences and camped on the hillside in anticipation of a good game. They weren’t disappointed.

El Toro, which earlier this season upset Capistrano Valley, scored the winning touchdown with 3:05 left to play when Adam’s older brother, Eric, took a pitchout from Charger quarterback Bret Johnson and raced 16 yards around right end.

A critical face mask penalty against the Diablos kept the drive alive after Brass had been thrown for a three-yard loss at one point during the winning rally. But there was still plenty of time for Mission Viejo to come back.

The Diablos started at their 29-yard line with 2:58 remaining and moved all the way to El Toro’s 16-yard line. A delay of game penalty moved the ball back five yards and then Murphy threw the interception that ended the game and most likely ended Mission Viejo’s title aspirations.

“That’s the best team Mission Viejo has ever had and we beat a very fine team,” El Toro Coach Bob Johnson said. “I don’t have an explanation for it, but for the past six years, we’ve risen for every big game. We’ll be going to the playoffs for the eighth straight year because the kids rise to the occasion.”

Once again, El Toro’s defensive secondary was superb. Adam Brass and Jim Hargy intercepted passes, giving the Chargers 23 interceptions for the season. Murphy completed only 7 of 19 pass attempts, but he was effective on the ground with 63 yards rushing.

Mission Viejo totaled 237 yards rushing, but Diablo Coach Bill Crow credited the play of El Toro’s linemen and two defensive penalties as the difference in the game.

Said Crow: “They beat us in the trenches. It was a physical game and they deserved to win. They were the better team tonight. They made the big plays when they had to.”

Asked if his team let up after opening a 10-0 lead in the first half, Crow shot back, “I don’t think so. A couple of defensive penalties kept two scoring drives going for them and killed us.”

El Toro rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter with two impressive drives. The Chargers drove 30 yards for their first score and a personal foul called against Diablo linebacker Craig Whitley kept the drive alive.

Whitley was cited for hitting Johnson late on a pass attempt, and besides the 15-yard penalty, the infraction nullified Diablo free safety Jay Phillips’ interception on the play. Johnson teamed with Chris Bailey on a fourth-down pass play for 10 yards, and reserve Chad Fouts scored on a three-yard run to cut Mission Viejo’s lead to 10-7.

El Toro made the most of the final 1:38 of the first half with a drive from its 30-yard line that resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Shane Brisbin. Eric Brass threw a 27-yard option pass to Bailey to get the Chargers rolling, and Brisbin’s kick tied the score at halftime, 10-10.

Mission Viejo scored the only points of the first quarter on Don Roberson’s 24-yard field goal. The kick was set up by Darrin Sweazy’s 56-yard run. The Diablos pushed their lead to 10-0 with 8:28 left in the half when Yert scored on a one-yard run.

Murphy’s 11-yard pass completion to Bob Doran on fourth down was the key play of the drive, and then the duo teamed up again on a 12-yard pass play for a first down at El Toro’s 11-yard line. Two plays later, Todd Yert scored on a one-yard plunge.

The teams were even statistically at halftime. Mission Viejo totaled 125 yards, gaining 102 of them on the ground. El Toro had 130 yards, and Johnson’s passing accounted for 71 of them.

Dana Hills 21-San Clemente 0--Matt Raith intercepted at the the goal line in the fourth quarter to help the Dolphins preserve a shutout over the Tritons at Spencer Stadium.

Raith’s interception with the Dolphins leading 14-0 halted San Clemente’s only serious drive of the game.

The Tritons (2-5-1, 1-4) were forced to punt on five of their eight possessions. Dana Hills’ Victor Vurpillat also intercepted a pass.

Vurpillat led Dana Hills (5-4, 3-2) with touchdown runs of 24 yards and 1 yard. He gained 45 yards on 12 carries.