Mission Viejo Keeps Rolling : Football: Snowden, Chrishon lead way in 40-20 victory that damages Dana Hills’ playoff hopes.

Quarterback Tim Snowden passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Marcellus Chrishon rushed for 112 yards and scored twice to lead Mission Viejo High School to a 40-20 romp over Dana Hills Friday night.

The victory kept Mission Viejo (6-1, 2-0) on pace for a Nov. 2 showdown with El Toro (7-0, 2-0) for the South Coast League title. Dana Hills (3-3-1, 0-2) lost its third in a row and is in jeopardy of missing the Division II playoffs.

Dana Hills surprised Mission Viejo early when tailback Marcus Jenkins broke an off-tackle run for a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Chrishon fumbled on his first possession following a nine-yard gain, and Jenkins scored on the next play.

But Jenkins’ long run was one of the only bright spots for Dana Hills. Snowden repeatedly burned Dana Hills’ young secondary, completing 19 of 25 passes for 288 yards before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.

Snowden threw to seven different receivers and was seldom under pressure as Mission Viejo’s offensive line provided excellent pass protection. Mike Boucher, a 6-foot-4 receiver, was Snowden’s favorite target, catching six passes for 88 yards.

Boucher’s 22-yard touchdown reception with only 48 seconds remaining in the first half gave Mission Viejo a 27-14 lead, and Dana Hills never seriously threatened afterward.

Cornerback Eddie Benyo set up Boucher’s touchdown catch left in the first half when he intercepted a pass overthrown by Dana Hills quarterback Albie Sukut.

“The interception certainly changed things,” said Don Douglass, Dana Hills coach.

Snowden threw for 177 yards in the first half, including a nine-yard swing pass to Chrishon for a touchdown that pushed Mission Viejo ahead, 21-14. Chrishon had problems with footing early but finished with 112 yards in 19 carries.

It marked the third consecutive week that Chrishon surpassed the 100-yard mark and ended a week of controversy in which Southern Section officials cleared Chrishon’s eligibility following his transfer from Temecula Valley.

But the game didn’t go without controversy. Six weeks ago, league principals introduced strict sportsmanship rules that included a clause that players ejected from a league game would automatically be suspended for the following game.

Last week, Mission Viejo defensive end Beau LeBreton and tackle Rob Culinan were ejected during the Diablos’ 32-17 victory over San Clemente for their roles in a bench-clearing fight, but both played Friday.

“We assumed that Mission Viejo’s players who were ejected would not be playing tonight,” said John Klink, Dana Hills athletic director. “My understanding is that (Mission Viejo principal) Bob Metz met with (San Clemente principal) Jim Krembas and agreed that the players ejected would not be punished because they weren’t involved in the fight after they reviewed the tapes.”

Morgan Bannister and Matt Wimpress of San Clemente also were ejected from the game last week and were allowed to play Friday night against Capistrano Valley.