Mission Viejo Has to Get Defensive

You know all those stories about the Mission Viejo High defense?

About how it can flatten elusive running backs, pester strong-armed quarterbacks and generally reduce even the most productive offenses to mush?

They’re all true.

The Diablos put on a show to remember in the Southern Section Division II championship game on Saturday, registering six sacks and 13 tackles for losses during a come-from-behind 10-6 victory over Newhall Hart before 8,036 at Edison Field.

The defense intercepted two passes from usually reliable quarterback Sean Norton and limited the Indians to 44 second-half yards in leading top-seeded Mission Viejo (14-0) to its second consecutive section title.

The Diablos, who stretched their winning streak to 28 games, also ended Hart’s 35-game unbeaten streak by handing the second-seeded Indians (12-1-1) their first defeat since they lost to Los Angeles Loyola, 24-16, on Oct. 7, 2000.

More impressive, Mission Viejo was the first team to hold Hart without a touchdown since Encino Crespi defeated the Indians, 14-3, on Sept. 14, 1990.

“Our defense came out swinging,” said Diablo defensive lineman Justin Williams, who registered his two sacks on consecutive plays. “We knew we had to play the best football we had all year and we pretty much did.”

Williams made the play of the day when he sacked Norton in the end zone for a momentum-turning safety that pulled Mission Viejo to within 3-2 early in the third quarter.

Marty Tadman returned the ensuing free kick to the Mission Viejo 45-yard line, then capped a 55-yard drive nine plays later by throwing a perfectly placed 27-yard touchdown pass to Clark Hardman.

“Marty set up the play with a pump fake and threw the perfect ball,” Hardman said. “The rest is history.”

Tadman connected with wide-open tight end Mark Dunn in the back of the end zone on the two-point conversion to give the Diablos a 10-3 lead.

Will Simons kicked his second field goal of the game, a 33-yarder, to draw Hart to within 10-6 early in the fourth, but the Indians’ final two drives ended in disaster.

Defensive lineman Brady Beach sacked Norton for an eight-yard loss on fourth and seven with 4 minutes 58 seconds left, and defensive back Trevor Miller intercepted a Norton pass with 2:40 left.

Mission Viejo tailback Jamielle Gummer, who rushed for a game-high 73 yards in 19 carries, sealed the victory by gaining a first down with 1:38 left.

Other Diablo defensive heroes included linebacker Aaron Miller, who had 12 tackles and two sacks, and lineman Ryan Quarles, who also had two sacks.

Norton completed 23 of 38 passes for 216 yards, but he often had to rush his throws because of a furious pass rush. Norton finished with 12 carries for minus-52 yards.

“They manhandled our offensive line and we had some breakdowns,” said Hart Coach Mike Herrington, whose team saw its streak of four consecutive section titles and 19 consecutive playoff victories end. “Their front seven just killed us.”