Mission Viejo football rallies to spoil Carson Palmer’s coaching debut

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MISSION VIEJO — There was no shortage of storylines as Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo kicked off their football seasons on Friday.

From the coaching debut of Santa Margarita’s Carson Palmer to the arrival of the Eagles’ new linemen to the heat of a South County rivalry, the game offered the spectators who filled Trabuco Hills High plenty to follow.

The drama built as the defenses dominated, setting the stage for Mission Viejo quarterback Luke Fahey to showcase his skill.

The Ohio State commit throw a 32-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jack Junker late in the third period and Diablos forced an incompletion on fourth-and-1 from their 7 with 26 seconds left in the fourth to secure a 7-3 victory.

“I’m so proud of my guys,” Mission Viejo coach Chad Johnson said. “We were banged up tonight. We (were) missing some guys. Vance Spafford got hurt (before) halftime and we kept fighting through adversity. Our starting linebacker Cash Gervase had a really catastrophic injury to his knee … but our young guys stepped up.”

Trailing 7-3, Santa Margarita drove about seven minutes from its 20 to reach the fourth-and-1 with 34 seconds left left in regulation. But the Eagles briefly lost the ball on the snap and the Diablos pressured Trace Johnson into an incomplete pass through the end zone.

Mission Viejo, ranked No. 2 in Orange County and No. 14 in the nation by MaxPreps, took a 7-3 lead as Fahey rolled to his right to connect with Junker, an offseason transfer from Santa Margarita.

Fahey finished 15 of 22 for 188 yards.

Santa Margarita, ranked No. 3  in Orange County and No. 16 in the nation by MaxPreps, led 3-0 at halftime on a 23-yard field goal by Tyler Wiegand as time expired.

On the play, Spafford injured his ankle attempting a block, Chad Johnson said.

The kick helped the Eagles salvage a possession that included a long touchdown catch by Trent Mosley negated by a holding penalty,

Wiegand’s field goal came after the Eagles’ Vai Manutai sacked Fahey to halt a Mission Viejo drive at the Santa Margarita 31.

Santa Margarita set the tone for a defensive battle with a fourth-and-goal stand from its 1 with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

The Eagles’ offensive and defensive lines featured recently cleared transfers Simote Katoanga, Manoah Faupusa, Niniva Nicholson and Isaia Vandermade.

“As soon as we heard that they wanted to run the ball down our throats, we emphasized closing that gap,” Mission Viejo defensive lineman JD Hill said. “Transfers don’t mean nothing. It’s all about heart.”

Palmer entered the game feeling “gratitude” for the chance to coach at his alma mater.

Santa Margarita hired the Heisman Trophy winner from USC and former NFL All-Pro in December in the wake of a alleged sexual assault case.

Palmer, 45, has delivered a “calming presence” and plenty of teaching, said Jim Hartigan, his high school coach who now serves as the school’s vice president of athletics.

Next week, Santa Margarita faces another test by playing host to Centennial on Thursday, Aug. 28. Mission Viejo plays at St. Paul on Aug. 29.