Mission Viejo defeats Carson, 42-21

There are many reasons to be impressed with unbeaten Mission Viejo (5-0), the No. 1-ranked football team in Southern California by The Times.

Dallas Kessman is a punishing runner. Junior quarterback Alex Bridgford is gaining confidence. The offensive line is outstanding. The team has won twice without its best player, linebacker-quarterback Tre Madden, who’s recovering from a foot injury.

But after the Diablos’ latest triumph, a 42-21 victory over Carson on Friday night, what is most important is how the team is benefiting from a challenging nonleague schedule.

Orange County teams get into trouble when they become too comfortable in their Orange County cocoon, always playing the same rivals and never venturing outside their comfort zone to face a more diverse style of opponent.

Mission Viejo is not making that mistake this season. It started with a trip to Washington and a win over Bothell, 49-13. Then the Diablos took it to Catholic school power Los Angeles Loyola, 42-7. They experienced Inland Empire football by winning a shootout against Corona, 56-34, learned about speed in a 37-7 victory over Long Beach Poly and learned some tough lessons while sometimes struggling against City Section power Carson.

“I just think we made a lot of mistakes,” Coach Bob Johnson said. “We’re happy with the win. Carson is a very good team.”

Bridgford completed a 69-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Keller on Mission Viejo’s first offensive play. He didn’t throw an incompletion in 10 first-half attempts, though two of those passes ended up in the hands of Carson defenders. And that was Mission Viejo’s big problem Friday — two interceptions and two fumbles.

Helping overcome the turnovers was the running of Kessman, who rushed for 173 yards in 18 carries and scored two touchdowns, and Jahleel Pinner, who added 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Carson received a fabulous performance from junior receiver Darreus Rogers. He caught seven passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. He made catches of 50 and 47 yards.

“If I’m in the Pac-10, I offer him right now,” Johnson said.

Tracey Harris and Trevor Gagau each had an interception and fumble recovery for the Colts (2-2), who pulled to within 28-14 in the third quarter on a Dion Willis one-yard touchdown run. Harris also came up with a dramatic third-quarter sack of Bridgford on fourth down from the 16-yard line.

But Mission Viejo’s defense came up with two big stops on fourth down in the second half, ending Carson’s hopes of a comeback.

This was a much better performance by Carson than two weeks ago when it faced its last Southern Section opponent, Santa Margarita, and lost, 56-14.

“We just played against a state-championship-caliber team and battled them tooth and toenail,” Coach Elijah Asante said. “They’re just hard to stop.”

Now Carson can start getting ready for the Marine League and a possible playoff showdown with defending City champion Los Angeles Crenshaw.

As for Mission Viejo, it still has another test next week against Redlands East Valley. Johnson likes playing games that will prepare his team for Pac-5 playoffs.

It was the same path in which Anaheim Servite emerged last season as Pac-5 champion after a brutally tough nonleague schedule.

All the Diablos need now is to get Madden back and they’ll be on their way.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com