Position Switch Helps Mission Viejo

Bobby Young and John Hudgins are making their coach look like a genius.

Hudgins, a junior quarterback making only his third varsity start, helped the offense roll up more than 400 yards and Young returned a fumble for a touchdown to help Mission Viejo cruise past Capistrano Valley, 33-6, in a South Coast League game Thursday at Mission Viejo High.

Hudgins completed nine of his first 10 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown in the first half and running backs Dan Bowling (18 carries, 106 yards, two touchdowns) and Chris Badraun (17 carries, 89 yards) gave Mission Viejo (4-2, 1-0 in league) plenty of balance.

Defensively, Young delivered two big plays for a unit that surrendered only 80 yards in the first half as the Diablos built a 21-0 lead.

Young started the first three games at quarterback for the Diablos but showed why Mission Viejo Coach Steve Carnes returned him to full-time duty at defensive back.

Young had a first-quarter interception and also returned a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter, shortly after Capistrano Valley (3-3, 0-1) had closed to within 21-6 on Daniel Chapman’s one-yard touchdown run.

“That play really broke their backs,” Carnes said. “It’s better for us with Bobby playing full-time on defense. He can do so many things.”

Young’s interception also came at a crucial time in the first quarter.

After Hudgins completed a 43-yard pass to Alex Honigford to help set up his own four-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Capistrano Valley drove into Mission Viejo territory before Young ended the drive.

Young intercepted Garrett Gray’s pass over the middle at the Mission Viejo 18, then weaved up the left sideline before cutting back to right sideline for a 68-yard return.

Four plays later, Hudgins tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Joey Reid on the final play of the first quarter to make it, 14-0. Hudgins finished 11 of 18 for 176 yards with no interceptions.

“John and I were right there all through the summer,” Young said. “Coach only started me because I had been here longer. When I switched to defense full-time, at first I missed it. But John’s doing great and I can just go out and have fun.”