News Summary
In a strong showing during their Alpha League opener, the Mission Viejo Diablos defeated the San Clemente Tritons 34-16. After a competitive first half, which ended in a tie, the Diablos took control in the second half with key contributions from their players, including impressive performances by Luke Fahey and Davonte Curtis. This win improves Mission Viejo’s record to 7-1 while San Clemente falls to 4-4 in the rankings. Next, Mission Viejo will face Edison, and San Clemente will take on Los Alamitos.
Mission Viejo – The Mission Viejo Diablos triumphed over the San Clemente Tritons with a decisive 34-16 victory in their Alpha League opener on Friday night. After a closely contested first half that ended with a tie score of 10-10, the Diablos dominated the second half to secure their seventh win of the season.
The game began with the Tritons taking an early lead when quarterback Eiler King connected with Jaxson Rex for a touchdown, putting San Clemente ahead 7-0. Mission Viejo’s Davonte Curtis quickly equalized with a rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 7-7. The Tritons regained the lead shortly after when Ethan Miller successfully kicked a 21-yard field goal, making it 10-7. However, the Diablos responded with a long-range effort from Caleb Sylvia, who kicked a 47-yard field goal to tie the game once again at 10-10 before halftime.
As the third quarter commenced, Mission Viejo shifted momentum in their favor. Sylvia’s 25-yard field goal gave them a 13-10 lead. Following this, Matthew Dalhover scored a touchdown on a one-yard run, expanding the Diablos’ lead to 20-10 by the end of the third quarter. Curtis followed up with his second rushing touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 27-10.
San Clemente fought back with Preston Beck throwing a touchdown to Shane Kiley, which brought the score to 27-16. However, their attempt at a two-point conversion was unsuccessful. The game concluded with Mission Viejo’s Luke Fahey throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to KJ Woodbury, solidifying the final score at 34-16.
Individual performances highlighted the game, with Mission Viejo’s Luke Fahey throwing for an impressive 378 yards, completing 25 of 31 passes. KJ Woodbury stood out with eight receptions totaling 151 yards and a touchdown. Jack Junker also made notable contributions with eight receptions for 109 yards. On the defensive side, JD Hill made a significant impact with 12 tackles, including one sack.
With this victory, Mission Viejo improved their overall record to 7-1, strengthening their position as the No. 1 team in the Orange County Top 25 rankings. On the other hand, the loss dropped San Clemente’s record to 4-4, placing them at No. 12 in the rankings.
Looking ahead, Mission Viejo will face Edison next Friday for their continued league play. Meanwhile, San Clemente will prepare to take on Los Alamitos.
This matchup between the two teams showcased not only the competitive spirit of high school football in the region but also highlighted the skills and determination of the athletes involved. As the season unfolds, both teams will strive to improve their standing and make an impact in the Alpha League.
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Additional Resources
- Orange County Register
- Wikipedia: Mission Viejo, California
- Sporting News
- Google Search: Mission Viejo football
- USA Today High School Sports
- Google Scholar: high school football
- MaxPreps
- Encyclopedia Britannica: high school football
Author: STAFF HERE MISSION VIEJO WRITER
The MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMissionViejo.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Mission Viejo, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Oso Fit 5K Fun Run and Community Health Fair, Walk Against Drugs & Community Fair, and National Night Out. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce and Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, plus leading businesses in retail and education that power the local economy such as The Shops at Mission Viejo, Capistrano Unified School District, and Amazon Delivery Station. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
