Sweazy Returns to Lead Mission Viejo’s Victory

Most coaches prefer not being the third place team from their league during the playoffs, but Mission Viejo Bill Crow is finding it works to his advantage.

Twice the Diablos have reached a championship game despite being the third-seeded team from the South Coast League. Friday, with tailback Darrin Sweazy back in the lineup, Mission Viejo routed Beverly Hills, 33-3, in the opening round of the Southern Section Southern Conference football playoffs at Sentinel Field in Inglewood.

Sweazy, who missed the last two games because of a sprained ligament in his right ankle, rushed 11 times for 42 yards and scored 2 touchdowns and playing only the first half.

Mission Viejo quarterback Tony Arnone had three touchdown passes as the Diablos surprised Beverly Hills (8-2-1), Ocean League co-champions.

“Our ground game was good and our passing game was good when we needed it,” Crow said. “As I said before, I don’t care where we are seeded, I just like to be in the playoffs. We have to beat the best sometime.”

Crow has guided Mission Viejo to a Central Conference championship in 1978 and to a Southern Conference final last year where the Diablos lost to Santa Ana.

But Crow expected Beverly Hills to be the type of team that could eliminate the Diablos.

Beverly Hills running back Willie Crawford Jr., the son of the former Dodger outfielder, gained only 39 yards in 14 carries. Crawford had rushed for 1,128 yards during the regular season.