Chavis Hopes to Become Part of Mission Viejo Tradition by Beating Mater Dei

Ever since that first day of practice under a scorching August sun, Mike Chavis and his Mission Viejo teammates have been getting a history lesson from Coach Bill Denny and his staff.

They’ve been told how the Diablos used to be a football force in the South Coast League and how Mission Viejo had won or shared eight league titles from 1979-90. But they’ve also been reminded that the school hasn’t won or shared a title since.

For the Diablos, who have started the season 6-0 for the first time since 1989, ending their title drought means defeating perennial power Mater Dei tonight. The top-ranked Monarchs also are 6-0 and have won or shared the last four league championships.

For ninth-ranked Mission Viejo to win, Chavis, a starting running back and defensive back, will have to make an impact on both sides of the ball.

So far, that hasn’t been a problem. Chavis is a 6-foot, 192-pound senior who transferred, along with quarterback Jake Fitch, from Trabuco Hills two years ago. He’s the team’s leading rusher, having gained 517 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 95 carries. On defense, he has nine solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, three interceptions, one broken up pass and a fumble recovery.

And Chavis, 17, believes the Diablos have a chance against the Monarchs, who are defending Division I champions and have won 20 consecutive games.

“Our coaches have been saying we’re like the Mission teams of old,” Chavis said. “So it doesn’t surprise me that we are 6-0. We knew we had a good team. Our line is really big and making big holes. We have speed at the skill positions, and on defense Jared Ritter has been stopping everyone.

“Last year against Mater Dei, we came into the game fired up, but they stopped us early and ran over us. This year, we won’t be intimidated. This year, our confidence is high. We think we can play a good game against them. But it’s definitely the biggest challenge of the year.”

Denny, who used Chavis primarily on offense last year when the Diablos finished 4-6, said Chavis’ evolving into a two-way player hasn’t surprised him. “He is the type of person who will to do anything for his team,” Denny said.

But Chavis’ growth as a running back has provided the biggest boost to Mission Viejo.

“He’s always had great speed but now he knows how to use it better, especially [knowing] when to accelerate.” Denny said. “We use him on what we call the ‘stretch’ play where the back goes around the tackle and runs to the outside. He’s been real good at that play and beating [defenders] to the sideline.”

Chavis gave a hint of things to come against Santa Ana in the season-opening game, during which he returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He carried the ball only three more times in the game--all in the first quarter--gaining 80 yards and scoring two more touchdowns in a 41-12 victory.

Chavis’ production has remained steady, except for the 39 yards he was held to by Trabuco Hills last Friday in Mission Viejo’s 17-14 victory. He ran for 81 yards against Aliso Niguel, 117 against El Toro and 89 against Century.

In fact, over the season’s first three games, Chavis was the focal point of the Diablos’ attack as the passing game was sputtering.

“Early in the season,” Denny said, “we weren’t executing the pass offense well mainly due to communication problems between Fitch and the receivers on the pass patterns.”

But in the 30-7 victory over then 10th-ranked Sunny Hills in Week 4, the Diablos’ offense put it all together. Chavis did his part, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown in 36 carries. But Fitch also had a big night, passing for 147 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 37 yards and another score.

“Chavis had a big night because we made Sunny Hills respect the pass,” Denny said.

Lancer Coach Tim Devaney said after the game that this year’s Mission Viejo team “is the best we’ve played since we started the series with them in 1992.”

“Chavis is good, but I don’t think he is the key,” Devaney said. “Their balance is the key. As long as those kids on offense are healthy, they have threats at every position.”

But Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson still considers Chavis the big threat with his speed (4.50 in the 40) and elusiveness behind Mission Viejo’s large offensive line.

“He is fun to watch,” Rollinson said. “In watching their game film, our coaches came away feeling you really have to wrap him up because he combines excellent speed with good vision.

“Chavis is a good cutback runner who hunts and pecks at a defense. He can run away from you or run you over. He’s the complete package. We feel we can test him, but we also know he can meet the challenge.”

College recruiters are taking notice too. Denny said San Diego State requested videotapes of Chavis’ games, and there has been interest from Washington State and Army.

But tonight’s game against the Monarchs is the only thing presently on Chavis’ mind.

“No one has challenged them,” he said. “But I think we can match up. It’s a matter of being able to execute our plays.”

Just like those other Mission Viejo teams used to do.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

MATER DEI VS. MISSION VIEJO

Featured Game

When: 7:30 tonight.

Where: Mission Viejo High.

Records: Mater Dei 6-0, Mission Viejo 6-0.

Rankings: Mater Dei is No. 1 in the county’s rankings, Mission Viejo is No. 9.

Noteworthy: The Diablos haven’t forgotten last year’s game, a 38-13 defeat. Mission Viejo believes it will provide a stiffer test this time. Scoring some points would be a big step; Mater Dei has given up only one touchdown and one field goal all season.