Football: Mission Viejo 28, Don Bosco Tech 25 (OT)

It’s not very often that Mission Viejo gets spanked, but that’s what happened in 2011 when the Diablos went on the road to play Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Tech, at the time ranked No. 1 in the nation. DBT scored a 35-7 victory that was nothing short of impressive.

So understand the motivation by anyone associated with the program back then and what it meant on Saturday night to have the lead, lose the lead, regain the lead, lose it, and then win in dramatic fashion in overtime. Yep, it was that kind of game.

The rematch two years in the making concluded the four-game Mission Viejo Classic which included Long Beach Poly’s 35-28 upset of Maxpreps’ National No. 9 Corona Centennial, and No.  1 St. John Bosco’s 52-31 victory over Chandler (Ariz.), the fifth-ranked team out of Arizona, despite being down 28-10 and its starting quarterback injured. 

Score: Mission Viejo 28, Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Tech 22 (OT)

Pivotal Moment: After everything that happened in regulation, Mission Viejo trailed in overtime 25-22 when it lined up for what would be Zach Olson’s fourth field goal, a 32-yard attempt. However, the snap was low and the busted play could have ended the game in Bosco’s favor—except that holder Hunter Bland passed to Peyton Marshall for a first down at the 12-yard line. Two plays later, Alex Suchesk scored from 11 for the win.

Records: Mission Viejo (2-0), Don Bosco Tech (1-1)

Notes: Zach Olson kicked three field goals, of 24, 31 and 32 yards for Mission Viejo. The latter tied the score at 22 with seven seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. … Bosco took the lead in overtime on a 22-yard field goal. … Mission Viejo led at halftime, 13-0, on the strength of Olson’s leg and a 14-yard pass from Ian Fieber to Sean Modster. The short drive was set up when Marques Caster recovered a botched punt return at the 17. … Modster had set up the first field goal with a 64-yard reception to the 8-yard line. … Suchesk scored twice. After DBT took a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter, his 2-yard run with 6:01 remaining gave the Diablos a 19-14 lead. …  Don Bosco Tech came into the game ranked No. 3 in New Jersey and No. 31 in the nation based on Maxpreps' Freeman Ratings. Mission Viejo was No. 40 nationally. The Diablos are ranked No. 2 in the Orange County top 10. ... Next week Mission Viejo plays La Habra, which is ranked No. 3 in Orange County