Chrishon Helps Mission Viejo Stay No. 1

IRVINE — Marcellus Chrishon rushed for 162 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead No. 1-ranked Mission Viejo to a 28-21 victory over Irvine in a South Coast League game Friday night at Irvine Stadium.

Mission Viejo (9-1, 5-0) rallied from a 7-0 deficit to clinch its second outright league title in three years.

Irvine (6-4, 2-3) finishes fourth in league, but can qualify for the Division II playoffs as a wild-card choice.

Irvine drove 31 yards for the game’s first touchdown with 9:59 left in the first quarter. Scott Seal scored on a three-yard run.

But Mission Viejo came back when Chrishon broke for a 66-yard touchdown to tie it, 7-7, with 6:22 left in the quarter.

Mission Viejo took the lead for the first time early in the second quarter, driving 59 yards for a touchdown. Bill Denny scored from seven yards out to make it 14-7.

Irvine’s Seal ran off tackle for a one-yard touchdown to tie the score at 14 with 7:30 left in the half.

Mission Viejo drove 61 yards in 11 plays to regain the lead, 21-14, with 2:51 left in the half. Chrishon ran one yard for the score. He had two 14-yard carries during the drive. Chrishon had 136 yards in 16 carries in the first half.

Mission Viejo scored on its first possession of the second half to extend its lead to 28-14.

Trailing 28-21, the Vaqueros got the ball at their own 37 with 3:16 left in the game. But Mike Boucher intercepted his second pass of the night to end the threat.