Dubois, Mission Viejo Run Past Chino, 18-9

It was the ultimate reversal of fortunes for Robbie Dubois and Mission Viejo High.

Dubois ran unchecked and the top-seeded Diablos stuffed second-seeded Chino’s vaunted offense Saturday en route to an 18-9 victory in the Southern Section Division II football championship game before 10,428 at Edison Field.

The victory came one year after Chino had stopped Dubois on key short-yardage situations in a second-round playoff victory. Dubois rebounded with 199 yards in 30 carries, including a 94-yard touchdown run and several sprints for first downs as Mission Viejo (14-0) ran out the clock to win its first title in 20 years.

“I just took over,” said Dubois, who ran with the benefit of blocking back Ryan Powdrell, who missed last year’s Chino game with a broken leg.

Chino (12-1) powered its way into its fourth title game in five years behind an offense that capitalized on 89% of its opportunities in the red zone. But the Diablo defense held the Cowboys to one field goal on three chances inside the 21-yard line.

After Brad Vaughn scored on a 21-yard pass from Jordan Palmer to put Mission Viejo ahead, 7-0, Chino drove to the Diablo 20 late in the first quarter. That’s when the Mission Viejo defense dropped Jacob Flowe twice on short-yardage situations and the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs.

“We had two plays to go two yards and we couldn’t get those two yards,” Chino Coach John Monger said. “When you have opportunities to score, you have to score.”

Flowe redeemed himself on the Cowboys’ next series when he cut outside and fended off linebacker Jared Darensbourg on a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 7-6. But freshman kicker Durrell Chamorro, who had converted 89% of his extra-points on the season, pulled the conversion kick wide right.

After the teams traded punts, Palmer faked a handoff to Powdrell and gave the ball to Dubois, who bolted 94 yards for a touchdown. Taylor Holiday took the snap on a surprise two-point conversion and flipped the ball to Dubois to put Mission Viejo ahead, 15-6.

Chino then drove 74 yards to the Diablo six-yard line before defensive tackle Chris Cole tripped Cowboy quarterback Kevin Glaab to end the first half.

A fumble by Dubois early in the second half gave Chino a first and goal at the Mission Viejo five, but the Cowboys had to settle for an 18-yard field goal.

Jeff Ferrier put the game away for the Diablos with a 43-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

For all their recent trips to the finals, Chino has only one title, won in 1997.

The Cowboys were hurt by the absence of fullback Frank Hernandez, who suffered nerve damage in his shoulder late in Chino’s 35-7 semifinal victory over San Clemente.