Mission Viejo Gets Tricky as Its Streak Hits 30

It’s expected that you’re big, strong and fast when you’re the second-ranked team in the Southland.

Add tricky, too.

Opening its playbook -- and taking advantage of lessons learned a week ago in a close call -- Mission Viejo extended its winning streak to 30 games on Friday with a 22-11 victory over host and No. 13 Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Looking nothing like the team that squeezed past Fountain Valley, 14-13, only because a two-point conversion failed on the final play, Mission Viejo exuded dominance befitting its streak.

It scored short, as Jed Collins ran in from one yard. And it scored long, as sophomore Chane Moline opened the third quarter with a 65-yard sprint through the Monarch defense.

But the Diablos (2-0) also used some sleight-of-hand to establish themselves against Mater Dei, a program long considered the epitome of Orange County football but which is now 0-2.

“We have the most creative coaches,” said senior Marty Tadman, who caught eight passes for 118 yards. “We put that fake reverse in just for this week. We thought they’d key on me, and sure enough, seven or eight guys came with me.”

That fake reverse gave Mission Viejo a 15-3 lead with 3 minutes 52 seconds left in the second quarter.

Stalled at the Mater Dei 17-yard line on fourth down, the teams exchanged timeouts before quarterback Mark Sanchez faked a handoff to the receiver Tadman on an end around, rolled to the left, then dumped a soft pass to Jamielle Gummer, who carried the ball the final few yards for a touchdown.

Collins, known more for his defense than he is for rushing, showed why in the final minute of the half when he intercepted a pass at the four-yard line, continuing a first-half of frustration for the Mater Dei offense.

Three times in the first two quarters the Monarchs reached the Diablo 25 or closer, yet they had only a 27-yard field goal by Pageniun Parvin to show for it.

Moline rushed 12 times for 124 yards, and his touchdown gave Mission Viejo a 22-3 lead.

Mater Dei, upset last week by Orange Lutheran -- another team ranked in the Top 25 -- answered with a 73-yard drive, Kyle Brown out-jumping two defenders on an 11-yard pass from Jason Forcier for the score.

Sanchez, a junior making his second start for Mission Viejo after transferring from Santa Margarita, completed 11 of 12 passes for 145 yards.

“The first game, we were young and inexperienced,” Sanchez said. “Our game plan was to keep our pad level low and drive them back.”

And they did. “We did a lot of improving between last week and this week,” Mission Viejo Coach Bob Johnson said. “Thirty is a nice number.”