Mission Viejo’s Late Score Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

When Deron Drake high-stepped into the end zone, a load of frustration finally ended for the Mission Viejo football team. At least for one week.

The Diablos, once at the top of the heap in Orange County, kept their playoff hopes alive Friday night with a 14-7 South Coast League victory over first-place Capistrano Valley.

They did so by driving 70 yards in the final 3 minutes 9 seconds, with Drake bolting past two defenders for a 12-yard touchdown run.

“When Deron went in, I think the whole team gave a sigh of relief,” quarterback Jeff Carr said. “That was our season.”

Well, not yet. Mission Viejo, the county’s No. 1-ranked team through the first four weeks of the season, still needs a victory next week, coupled with a Capistrano Valley loss, to reach the Southern Section playoffs. A 50-50 prospect, but those are better odds than the Diablos had late in the fourth quarter.

With 3:14 left, Cougar quarterback Scott Patton ran over two defenders on a 10-yard run for a touchdown. His extra point gave Capistrano Valley (5-4, 3-1) a 7-6 lead.

The Diablos (6-3, 2-2) were faced with fading hopes.

“I told the guys in the huddle to pick up their heads,” Carr said. “We were going after them.”

Carr completed five consecutive passes for 44 yards to move the ball to the Capistrano Valley 18. Two plays later, Drake cut outside, slipped through the hands of Allan Perlas and Jamie Ortiz for the touchdown.

“We’ve been though so much the last month,” Drake said. “We finally put it behind us.”

Through four games this season, the Diablos looked nearly invincible. However, after injuries decimated their offensive line, the bottom fell out.

Mission Viejo had lost three of four games before Friday.

But the Diablos came up with a strong defensive performance to stay alive in the playoff race. They did so by taking Cougar running back Perlas out of the game.

Perlas, who had gained 404 yards in is past two games, was held to 36 yards in 14 carries.

However, the Mission Viejo offense squandered opportunities. The Diablos were stopped on the one in the first half and turned the ball over three times.