MISSION VIEJO — Mission Viejo clinched a share of the inaugural Alpha League football championship Friday by beating Edison 49-24 at Mission Viejo High.
The Diablos won 12 league championships in the last 15 years while the team played in the South Coast League. Mission Viejo (9-0, 2-0) can clinch an outright league championship with a win over Los Alamitos next Friday, Nov. 1.
Mission Viejo wide receiver Phillip Bell iii makes a touchdown catch during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey throws the ball during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison wide receiver Ayden Degiacomo picks up extra yards after a catch during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo running back Hinesward Lilomaiava carries the ball during an Alpha League home game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey carries the ball on a quarterback keeper play during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison halfback Julius Gillick carries the ball during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo running back Hinesward Lilomaiava breaks a tackle while carrying the ball during an Alpha League home game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey throws the ball during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison quarterback Sam Thomson throws the ball during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey throws the ball during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Drai Trudeau throws the ball while on the run during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison quarterback Sam Thomson throws the ball during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison wide receiver Jake Minter carries the ball during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison wide receiver Ayden Degiacomo makes a catch while on the run during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo running back Hinesward Lilomaiava picks up extra yards after a tackle for a Diablos’ touchdown during an Alpha League home game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo students cheer on the Diablos during a home football game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison wide receiver Aidan Brown breaks a tackle while carrying the ball during an Alpha League game against Mission Viejo on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Edison Head Football Coach Jeff Grady talks to his players during an Alpha League game at Mission Viejo High School on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
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Mission Viejo wide receiver Phillip Bell iii makes a touchdown catch during an Alpha League game against Edison on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo coach Chad Johnson said he is proud of his team for not getting complacent after winning the CIF-SS Division 2 championship last season.
“Sometimes when you win a championship, there’s a hangover, and you really don’t work the same way,” Johnson said, “After a championship season, we got back to work, grinded, and are having a great season.”
Mission Viejo’s offense was well-balanced with four passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Hinesward Lilomaiava ran for 114 yards with three touchdowns.
Both quarterbacks played well for the Diablos. Luke Fahey completed 9 of 10 passes for 144 yards with two touchdowns. Draiden Trudeau threw for 75 yards with two touchdowns.
“When we have games like this, as a defensive coordinator, what do you do?” Johnson said. “I think we are hard to stop.”
Edison senior quarterback Save Niumata was in uniform Friday but did not play due to an injury he suffered last week in a win over Los Alamitos. Sophomore Sam Thomson started at quarterback for the Chargers (6-3, 1-1) and threw for 207 yards.
Chargers running back Julius Gillick is the second leading rusher in Orange County this season and had not been held under 100 yards entering Friday. Gillick still had a good game with two touchdown runs, but ran for 95 yards on 24 carries.
“He’s the best running back we have played so far and he had a good game, but we held him down a little bit,” Mission Viejo senior Dijon Lee said. “First year in this league and we wanted to start it out with a bang and we have.”
Edison opened the game with a scoring drive that took nearly 9 minutes off the clock. Nico Bammer made a 34-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead.
The first quarter was the first time Mission Viejo had trailed in a game since Sept. 20 against Basha of Arizona.
Mission Viejo’s Dijon Lee returned a kick 56 yards and had an interception in the Diablos’ 49-24 win over Edison on Friday, Oct. 25. (Photo by Michael Huntley)
Lee, an Alabama commit, returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for Mission Viejo. After four rushing attempts from the 1-yard line, Lilomaiava ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Diablos a 7-3 lead.
Gillick ran for a 6-yard touchdown for Edison to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead.
Mission Viejo scored two touchdowns before halftime to give the Diablos a 21-10 lead. Lilomaiava ran for a 9-yard score with 5:32 remaining in the half.
After a 41-yard interception return by Lee, Fahey threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Cash Semonza with 28 seconds left in the second quarter.
Trudeau threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Bell to open the second half and Lilomaiava scored his third touchdown after the Diablos got the ball at Edison’s 5-yard line when Edison’s punter fumbled a snap.
Fahey connected with Semonza for another touchdown in the fourth quarter and Trudeau threw a touchdown pass to Vance Spafford.
Spafford led the Diablos with 88 yards receiving and Semonza added 65 yards with two touchdowns.
Thomson threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Brown in the third quarter. Brown had 87 yards receiving for Edison and Ayden Degiacomo had 86 on seven catches.
Edison plays San Clemente next Friday on the road. The Chargers can clinch a share of the league championship with a win and a Mission Viejo loss next week.
