Two of Southern California’s best high school football teams, Mission Viejo and St. John Bosco, picked up impressive victories Saturday night.
Mission Viejo (2-0) intercepted four passes, scored two touchdowns, and recorded three sacks from Jaden Williams in a 35-7 home win over Santa Margarita.
St. John Bosco traveled to Florida to play a nationally televised game against Madonna Chaminade and earned a 34-27 victory thanks to two sophomores. Maliq Blackwell-Allen broke free and scored on a 71-yard touchdown run to break a 27-27 tie in the fourth quarter. Safety Isaia Wily-Ava added a sack and an interception in the fourth quarter and was involved in a final pass play with nine seconds left. Junior quarterback Matai Fuiava threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns.
Mission Viejo took a 14-0 halftime lead after Brock deFries returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Jeron Jones added another pick-six, this time for 73 yards. Quarterback Luke Fahey threw for 156 yards, including touchdowns of 15 yards and three yards to Phillip Bell and two yards to Brady Bowman.
The Diablos’ focus was to keep reigning Trinity League Player of the Year Trent Mosley from getting away on pass catches in the secondary. He had four catches for 55 yards to start, but quarterback John Gazzaniga struggled to get the ball to him the rest of the half.
Williams continues to be a one-man wrecking team as a defensive end. He had 18½ sacks last season, and the freshman from San Diego State already has six through two games.
“It’s a film study,” Williams said.
He is also on a mission.
“I have to improve on last year,” he said.
Williams applied pressure, which benefited the Diablos’ secondary. Jones had two interceptions and DJ Lee had another.
Mission Viejo has a week off before hosting Henderson (Nev.) Liberty on Sept. 6. Santa Margarita (0-1) will have to figure out how to get Mosley more involved in the offense when it plays Corona Centennial next week. He played running back in the second half and finished with nine catches for 115 yards.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
