Mission Viejo 21 - Eagles 10
Despite a gritty performance, the Eagles fell to Mission Viejo 21-10 in their home opener
MISSION VIEJO, CA., August 30, 2019 – You heard several familiar names announced by the public address announcer last Friday night, but they were being called for the visiting team. With emotions running high for a game that was dubbed, “The Transfer Bowl,” Mission Viejo’s 21 first-half points proved to be too much as the Eagles (1-1) dropped their home opener, 21-10.
Despite a dismal offensive showing, the Eagle defense shined bright on the night, holding the Mission Viejo quarterback to less than 100 yards passing and hauling in one interception. They struggled with the Diablo run game early on, including a 99-yard run to the house, ultimately giving up 257 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Despite those numbers, the Eagle defense was flying around the field, led by senior Greg Doyle’s 15 total tackles and joined by junior’s Anthony Comestro and Derek Wilkins who had 10 total tackles each. Special teams also played well, courtesy of a first-quarter punt block by Drew Sulick and recovered by Tyler Whitman, which set the tone early on.
The lone touchdown on the night for the Eagles was one for the highlight reel, as Wilkins perfectly timed his rush with the quarterback and running back’s mesh point, knocking the ball out and bouncing right into the waiting hands of Shane Cova who ran it back 50-yards to the house with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.
What is Next?
The Eagles travel to Greenwood Village, Colorado where they will face off with Colorado’s 5A State Champion runners-up tonight at Stutler Bowl Stadium. Last year, the Eagles lost to the Bruins by a score of 21-14. Cherry Creek is coming off a 45-6 victory over Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colorado). Overall, Santa Margarita is 3-4 in games against out-of-state opponents, 0-3 at home and 3-1 on the road. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm Mountain Pacific time and will be streaming online.
| Mission Viejo | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
MV – Robertson 2 run (Lopez kick)
MV – Scott 99 run (Lopez kick)
MV – Robertson 7 pass from Costelli (Lopez kick)
SM – Cova 51 fumble recovery (Teasley kick)
SM – Teasley 35 FG
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: MV - Robertson 27-140, Scott 9-117; SM - Barcelos 12-1, Edwards 2-6
Passing: MV - Costelli 9-11-1-96; SM - Holmes 6-16-1-15
Receiving: MV - Nenad 3-35, Anderson 2-31; SM - Grogan 1-6
Sean Zeitler
Sports Information Director
Mission Viejo wins a tough one against Santa Margarita
MISSION VIEJO – Mission Viejo football coach Chad Johnson wanted to see improved play from his team’s quarterback and offensive line on Friday when the Diablos played Santa Margarita.
He got what he wanted. Diablos quarterback Peter Costelli was an efficient 9 for 11 for 101 yards and a touchdown against his ex-teammates, and the offensive line helped the running game produce 230 rushing yards in a 21-10 nonleague win at Trabuco Hills High.
Mission Viejo, ranked No. 3 in the Register’s Orange County top 25 and No. 8 in the CIF-Southern Section combined Division 1/2 top 10, is 2-0. The Diablos opened the season last week with a 38-14 win over Konawaena on the big island of Hawaii.
No. 11 Santa Margarita is 1-1.
Jacquez Robertson and Tyson Scott rushed for 114 yards each for the Diablos. Scott got 99 of his yards on a touchdown run in the second quarter. Robertson scored on a 2-yard run and on an 8-yard reception.
Santa Margarita struggled on offense. The Eagles rushed for only 20 yards and passed for only 10 as they had to change quarterbacks in the second quarter after starter Colt Fulton absorbed a big hit and did not return, having been placed in concussion protocol.
The Eagles’ defense provided their touchdown in the third quarter when defensive end Derek Wilkins stripped the ball from Robertson and Shane Cova recovered it and ran 52 yards for a touchdown.
Santa Margarita’s Jonathan Teasley kicked a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Costelli, a junior, transferred to Mission Viejo from Santa Margarita after the 2018-19 school year. He might still just be getting a feel for his new teammates, having missed the Diablos’ August practices and scrimmages because of a hamstring injury.
One other Santa Margarita-to-Mission Viejo transfer, senior defensive end Logan Schwenke, had a sack, and another ex-Eagle now at Mission Viejo, senior receiver Chase Nenad, had three receptions for 39 yards.
The Diablos’ first touchdown, a 2-yard run by Robertson, finished a 15-play, 97-yard drive that started after Ryder Fitch blocked a Santa Margarita field-goal attempt. Poor field position was no for Mission Viejo on its next possession, with Scott running 99 yard for his touchdown. The Costelli-to-Robertson touchdown pass with 1:24 left in the second quarter made it 21-0.
Santa Margarita scored all of the game’s second-half points on the fumble recovery and the field goal.
Mission Viejo plays at No. 6 La Habra on Friday, Sept. 6.
Santa Margarita takes a long trip for next week’s game. The Eagles play at Cherry Creek of Greenwood Village, Colo. Santa Margarita last week defeated Redlands East Valley 33-14.
By Steve Fryer
Friday, August 30, 2019
The Orange County Register
