Mission Viejo Can’t Be Stopped

Turnovers. Breaks. Opportunities. Those are things that San Clemente couldn’t afford to give Mission Viejo if it hoped to end the Diablos’ two-season win streak Friday.

But knowing what to do, and doing it, are entirely different things.

And so San Clemente stumbled, and Mission Viejo walked tall for the 21st consecutive game, a 49-14 home victory over its primary South Coast League rival.

The Diablos (7-0, 2-0 in league), ranked No. 3 by The Times and No. 1 in the Southern Section Division II poll, took advantage of good field position and another key performance by Marty Tadman to put away No. 15 San Clemente (4-3, 1-1).

Mission Viejo scored 21 of its first 35 points after breakdowns in San Clemente’s offense or special teams. It scored touchdowns after taking possession at San Clemente’s 41 and 40, at midfield, at the Tritons’ 20, and twice from its own 34.

The pivotal moment came in the second quarter. Tadman intercepted his fifth pass of the season and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown with 8 minutes 51 seconds left, igniting a second-quarter onslaught in which Mission Viejo scored 21 points to take a 28-7 halftime lead.

Tadman’s interception return gave Mission Viejo a 14-7 lead. It came after the Diablo offense drove to the seven-yard line, only to be pushed back and miss a 35-yard field-goal attempt. His interception of Cole Bergquist’s pass on the 25-yard line turned the tide, though.

Instead of momentum sticking with San Clemente after the big defensive stand, it turned in favor of Mission Viejo.

“We were deflated after that,” Triton Coach Eric Patton said..

On San Clemente’s next possession, the ball was snapped past punter Chris Miller into the end zone. Miller recovered the ball and got the punt off, but Mission Viejo got the ball at the Triton 40. Jamielle Gummer ran for 27 yards and twice for four yards to get the ball to the five-yard line. Ryan Holmes then scored for a 21-7 lead.

The defense -- anchored by Chris Cole, Justin Williams and Chad Moline -- allowed San Clemente 153 yards, 52 in the first half, and forced five turnovers.

Holmes rushed for 111 yards and touchdown runs of five and two yards. Gummer rushed for 55 yards, scoring on runs of eight and one yard.