Mission Viejo 27, De La Salle 14 (final): Live update summary — Diablos win CIF title in heavyweight battle

Luke Fahey, Phillip Bell and Hinesward Lilomaiava lead the way, offsetting big performance from De La Salle QB Toa Faavae

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA — Mission Viejo took a big early haymaker, stayed the course and rode its wave of versatile athletes and rugged defenders to win a second state title with a 27-14 victory over Northern California king De La Salle in the CIF Division 1-AA championship game Friday at Saddleback College. 

Sophomore Phillip Bell caught two touchdown passes, one each from alternating quarterbacks Luke Fahey and Draiden Trudeau, Hinesward Lilomaiava rushed for 87 yards and Travis Anderson and Treyvon Tolmaire intercepted passes for the Diablos who overcame an early 55-yard TD run by speedy De La Salle junior quarterback Toa Faavae. 

(Mission Viejo coach Chad Johnson on winning in hometown)

Faavae was brilliant all night with 17 carries for 162 yards, while throwing for 106 yards. 

But while the Spartans (11-3) were largely one dimensional, the Diablos showed great balance to defeat De La Salle for the third time in five meetings since 2004. 

Fahey came off the bench to rush five times for 83 yards and complete 10 passes for 99 yards. Bell had seven catches for 77 yards. 

After Faavae's 55-yard touchdown, the Diablos scored 24 unanswered points to take control. Michael Salgado added two field goals for the winners.

Box score of Mission Viejo's 27-14 win over De La Salle / Courtesy CIF

 PREGAME — Longtime California super powers De La Salle and Mission Viejo face off for the fifth time in program history. 

This one is for all the glory. 

The teams face off at Saddleback College, in Mission Viejo's backyard for the CIF State Division 1-AA championship, the second in line behind the Open Division. 

The programs met four straight years starting in 2003, with each winning two games. Mission Viejo, behind future NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez, won the first two meetings, 17-14 and 36-26 and the Spartans won the last two, 35-28 and 35-7. Total score: De La Salle 110, Mission Viejo 88. 

California (CIF) State high school football championships at Saddleback College: Previews, game times

De La Salle has won 11 straight since opening with humbling losses to Orange Lutheran 35-14 and Serra 28-0. The Spartans, not as dominating as when it won seven state titles from 2006-2015, but they are still formidable as shown in a surprising 41-0 regional title win over previously unbeaten Clovis North, which had beat JSerra Catholic handily. In the win streak, DLS has recorded three shutouts and outscored foes 336-107. 

Mission Viejo (12-3) has won seven straight since a 20-10 loss to San Clemente. The Diablos were particularly impressive in the playoffs, outsourcing formidable opponents handily: Oaks Christian (39-14), Murrieta Valley (31-21), Servite (34-15) and last week Granite Hills (49-21), piling up 406 yards of offense and allowing just 92 yards rushing.

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LIVE UPDATES BELOW

Kickoff set for 8 p.m. ...

SBLive Sports senior editor Mitch Stephens will be on site all day from Saddleback 

FOURTH QUARTER

Mission Viejo 27, De La Salle 14 (3:31) — FG, Michael Salgado 36-yard field, his second of the game. Caps 12-play, 57-yard drive and chewed up 5:02 to all but clinch it. 

- Any chance for DLS comeback all but thwarted by Mission Viejo chewing up nearly five minutes, down to the DLS 30. Timeout. 3rd-and-8 from 30. First down on Bell 10-yard catch from Trudeau. 

Mission Viejo 24, De La Salle 14 (8:39) — Derrick Blanche 1-yard TD run, capps 14-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:24 off clock. Faavae with most of the damage. He's well over 100 yards rushing 

THIRD QUARTER

- End of 3

Mission Viejo 24, De la Salle 7 (2:03) — Fahey 8-yard TD pass to Vance Spafford finishes off 11-play, 70-yard drive and Diablos are in complete control. 

Phillip Bell hauls in 11-yard TD pass from Luke Fahey to tie the game at 7-7 for Mission Viejo vs. De La Salle. 10:37 2Q. pic.twitter.com/Hwh6vYhCQS

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) December 9, 2023

Mission Viejo 17, De La Salle 7 (7:38) — Phillip Bell with his second TD catch, this one a 3-yarder from Draiden Trudeau. Caps 45-yard, 8-play drive. Long kickoff return keys the drive. 

SECOND QUARTER

- De La Salle, almost miraculously considering a running team, drove 65 yards and two plays to set up a 28-yard field goal that was missed on the last play of the half. Big opportunity missed by the Spartans. Faavae rushed for 16 yards then completed a 49-yard bomb to Jayden Nicholas. All for naught with missed field goal. END OF HALF.

Mission Viejo's Hinesward Lilomaiava is grabbed by De La Salle's Drew Cunningham.  / Photo: Joe Bergman

Mission Viejo 10, De La Salle 7 (0:24) — FG, Michael Salgado 22 yards, completes 11 play, 92 yards, takes 2:07. 

Mssion Viejo 7, De La Salle 7 (10:37 2Q) — Luke Fahey completes 11-yard TD pass to Phillip Bell. Finishes off 10-play, 68-yard drive that chews up 4:39.  

Luke Fahey came off the bench to spark the Diablos / Photo: Joe Bergman

- Mission Viejo has ball at De La Salle 45, 1st-and-10 to start the second quarter

FIRST QUARTER

De La Salle 7, Mission Viejo 0 (8:58 1Q) — Toa Faavae, the Spartans' fleet quarterback, sprints 55 yards for a touchdown. 8:58 1Q. Opening drive, 5-play, 63 yards, 3:02. 

Toa Faavae likes Saddleback college. 55-yard TD gives De La Salle a 7-0 lead on first drive. 8:58 1Q. pic.twitter.com/YOZvE8e9gX

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) December 9, 2023

PREGAME READING

Players to watch: De La Salle — QB Toa Faavae, RBs Derrick Blanche Jr. and Dominick Kelley, DL Chris Biller, TE-LB Drew Cunningham; WR-CB Jaden Jefferson; WR-DB Johnathan Guerrero.

Players to watch: Mission Viejo — OT Mark Schroller (6-6, 295), CB Dijon Lee (6-3, 180) the state’s No. 5 junior commit with 15 offers including Auburn, Oregon and Oklahoma; WR Phillip Bell (6-2, 195) 37 offers including Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State; CB Treyvon Tolmaire (Boise State commit), ATH Travis Anderson (Boise State commit), OT Daxton Christman-Gourley (6-6, 270), LB Jack Matranga (6-2, 220), WR Vance Spafford (5-11, 175, So.) 77 catches, 1,510 yards, 21 touchdowns after 36-608-11 as freshman; QB Luke Fahey (6-0, 185, So.) 152 of 242 for 2,086 yards, 24 TDs; RB Hinesward Lilomaiava (1,061 yards, 16 TDs).

Skinny: Before last week, De La Salle hadn’t got its usual charge off the offensive line resulting in a sputtering offense. Mission Viejo’s fronts might just prove too big and physical and with the playmaking abilities of Fahey, Bell, Lee and Spafford, the inspired De La Salle defense — playing for its longtime popular defensive line coach Steve Jacoby who passed suddenly at midseason — likely can’t hold the Diablos down for four quarters. DLS’s sprinter QB Faavae will need to break some long ones.

CalPreps computer predictions: Mission Viejo 24, De La Salle 19

SBLive prediction: Mission Viejo 28, De La Salle 17