Cougars Cool Off Top-Ranked Diablos

MISSION VIEJO —  Eric Patton, Capistrano Valley High School’s coach, took the traditional bucket of ice water, more ice than water by the way, flush in the back.

Ice ran down his neck and down the back of his shirt. But Patton was unfazed, he laughed and went on hugging his players along the sideline. This was no time to worry about his appearance.

With 90 seconds left to play Friday night, it was time to celebrate. Capistrano Valley was on its way to a 27-14 victory over Mission Viejo, the top-ranked team in Orange County for the past month.

An overflow crowd of 5,000 in Capistrano Valley’s campus stadium watched the Cougars establish a strong running game, pass effectively when needed and hold Mission Viejo’s offense in check.

Third-ranked Capistrano Valley (7-0 overall, 2-0 in South Coast League play) controlled play throughout but was most impressive in the second half, holding Mission Viejo scoreless except for a touchdown in the final seconds.

Mission Viejo is 6-1, 1-1.

“It’s the best feeling,” said Paul Shaheen, Capistrano Valley running back who rushed for 103 yards and a game-clinching two-yard touchdown in 22 carries. “And to put (Mission Viejo) down makes it feel extra good.”

Shaheen was one of the reasons Capistrano Valley was so successful. His running allowed the Cougars to keep the ball for long, time-consuming drives.

“The line was opening up some big holes,” Shaheen said.

Tony Solliday, Capistrano Valley’s quarterback, had another consistent game, completing eight of 14 passes for 172 yards. Solliday, who came into the game completing 60% of his passes, also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Dan Zamora for the Cougars’ first score.

Zamora, who caught five passes for 125 yards, outfought Diablos’ defenders Eric Zimmerman and Bryce Williams for the ball in the corner of the end zone.

On the Cougars’ next possession, he teamed with Solliday to beat Zimmerman again for a 53-yard pass play that led to a one-yard touchdown run by Damon Psaros. A two-point conversion pass from Solliday to Scott Patton gave Capistrano Valley a 14-0 lead.

Mission Viejo came back with a 79-yard scoring drive--Gregg Clapper scoring from a yard away--and it appeared the Diablos would mount a challenge after all.

But that was all the Diablo offense could do until Ryan Darke, who gained 24 yards in 10 carries, scored on a one-yard run with seven seconds left in the game.

In between, Capistrano Valley pounded away with its running game. After a scoreless third quarter, Motor Mosebrook ran three yards for a score and Shaheen added the clincher, a two-yard dive with 3:05 left in the game.

Though Mission Viejo drove for what amounted to a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes, there was little to dampen the Capistrano Valley celebration on the sidelines.