HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Mission Viejo, Orange County No. 1, Drives to a Victory Over El Camino

Payson LeMeilleur’s passing and a stifling defense Friday led Mission Viejo, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, to a 14-7 victory over El Camino, San Diego’s No. 2-ranked team, in a game at Mission Viejo High.

LeMeilleur threw for 131 yards and a touchdown as the Diablos (3-0) defeated the San Diego Section’s two-time defending Division 2-A champion.

Mission Viejo scored the first points of the season allowed by El Camino on the opening drive when LeMeilleur threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mark McDonough. The 81-yard drive was highlighted by Anthony Ramirez’s pass receptions for 35 and 15 yards.

The Diablos scored late in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Deron Drake, capping a 76-yard drive. Ramirez set up the score by catching a 48-yard pass to give Mission Viejo a first down at the El Camino four.

El Camino made it 14-7 midway through the third quarter when Abdul McCullough, the 1990 Avocado League defensive player of the year, picked up a fumble and ran 20 yards for a score.

El Camino recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Diablo 18, but the drive fizzled and the Wildcats failed to score.

El Camino still had a chance late in the fourth quarter when it drove deep into Mission Viejo territory. The drive was squelched at the Mission Viejo 19 on an interception by Eddie Benyo as time ran out.

St. Augustine 21, Hoover 6--The Saints (2-1) went into halftime trailing, 6-0, but marched over injury riddled Hoover (1-2) in the second half.

Hoover gained the lead in the second quarter when defensive back Dominique Waltower intercepted an Aaron Buckner pass and ran it back 100 yards.

The return tied for fifth longest in San Diego Section history.

The Saints came close to scoring in the first half, but penalties held them back.

The Saints, on their own 34-yard line, began their next series with Byron Limbrick at quarterback. Starter Vesnea Tan was taken out of the game because of an injury.

Also missing from the Cardinal offense was running back Jaime Blake, who had five rushing touchdowns in the Cardinal’s first two games.

Without Tan and Blake, the Cardinals were forced to punt with time running out in the first half. The Saints’ Mozerka returned the punt to the Hoover 19-yard line, but a penalty stalled the drive.

St. Augustine came out inspired for the second half. Mozerka picked up 20 yards on a broken play to begin the third quarter. A 15-yard run by Esley Baker was made a bit longer by a late-hit penalty. The Saints powered their way toward the end zone, and finally scored when Chris Sovay ran around the left end for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Cardinals used their third quarterback when Limbrick was injured. His replacement, Dan Bjorklund, couldn’t generate much on his first possession and the Saints returned Hoover’s punt to their own 47-yard line.

The Saints went 53 yards for the score and took a 14-6 lead. The key play of the drive was Mozerka’s six-yard gain on fourth and two.

The Saints’ last touchdown came when Buckner connected with Mozerka for a 33-yard scoring pass. Matt Tessier kicked his third extra point of the night to make it 21-6.