Late Penalties Give Mission Viejo Boost Over San Clemente

Sometimes it’s not who gets flagged the most, but who gets flagged last.

Mission Viejo was its worst enemy much of the night as drive after drive stalled because of penalties. But on the Diablos’ last-minute march, they got two crucial calls that helped them pull off a thrilling 23-17 victory over San Clemente Friday night in front of 2,000.

The victory left eighth-ranked Mission Viejo (7-1, 2-1) alone in second place with only two South Coast League games to play. San Clemente, which tied the score with 1 minute 34 seconds remaining, dropped to 5-2-1, 1-1-1.

San Clemente tied it at 17 by converting two fourth-down plays, the second a 16-yard scramble by quarterback Oscar Montecinos on fourth and nine at Mission Viejo’s 20. Montecinos (95 yards, 19 carries) scored two plays later on a keeper from three yards.

Mission Viejo quarterback Jake Fitch got his team moving toward the winning score by converting on third down and nine--he hit Dustin Crane for 13 yards to move the ball to Mission Viejo’s 42. On the next play, Fitch threw an incompletion down the sideline, but was hit late and San Clemente was called for roughing.

“I actually got hit twice and I think they called both of them,” Fitch said.

Fitch went back to the air again and his pass over the middle fell incomplete again, but officials called pass interference on San Clemente, moving the ball to the Triton 27.

“We were trying to hit the slant to [Crane], but they held him and grabbed him from behind,” Fitch said. “It was definitely a penalty.”

Fullback Ken Bowling put the Diablos in field goal position with a 20-yard run up the middle to the seven. But on the next play, Fitch hit a wide open Nick Gilliam in the end zone.

“I was supposed to sit in the end zone and hope Jake finds me,” said Gilliam, who caught six passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

After the score, Gilliam was called for a celebration foul and Mission Viejo was penalized 15 yards, putting the Diablos over 100 yards in penalties for the game.

In the first half, Mission Viejo had seven penalties for 65 yards. San Clemente didn’t do itself any favors in the first half, as it had four turnovers, two fumbles and two interceptions. Mission Viejo led the sloppy game, 7-0, at the half.

“They didn’t really stop us all night,” Fitch said. “We just kept stopping ourselves with penalties.”

Mission Viejo’s leading rusher Mike Chavis was held to 33 yards in 12 carries, but Bowling picked up the slack with a career-high 143 yards in 11 carries.

“They tried to put a lot of pressure on the pass and that opened the run up for Ken,” Fitch said.