SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Chrishon’s Four Touchdowns Lead Mission Viejo Past Downey, 35-12

Running back Marcellus Chrishon scored four touchdowns and rushed for 161 yards to lead Mission Viejo High School to a 35-12 victory over Downey in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs Friday night at Downey High School.

In winning, Mission Viejo (11-1) became one of three South Coast League teams to reach the semifinals. The Diablos will meet Capistrano Valley, which also won, in one semifinal matchup next Friday night. El Toro advanced to the other semifinal. It is Mission Viejo’s eighth consecutive trip to the semifinals.

Against Downey (8-4), Mission Viejo established its running game early. Chrishon scored touchdowns on runs of three and 37 yards and gained 106 yards in 16 carries in the first half. The second-seeded Diablos led at halftime, 21-6.

Mission Viejo’s game plan was evident at the outset, when Chrishon carried the ball 11 times in a 12-play drive that was capped by his three-yard touchdown run.

Quarterback Tim Snowden had a stretch midway through the half when he completed just two of nine attempts and was intercepted twice. Downey’s only touchdown of the first half came after Snowden’s second interception. Downey scored on a 42-yard run on the ensuing play to make it 14-6.

Snowden completed 10 of 20 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown, a seven-yarder to Doug Roberson with five seconds remaining in the first half.

In the second half, Chrishon capped a 9 1/2-minute, 15-play drive with a one-yard run that put the Diablos on top 28-6. He added another one-yard touchdown run with 3:03 remaining to play.