Mission Viejo starts fast, and defense seals victory

Mission Viejo had a 23-point lead at halftime and a 22-point lead at the end of the third quarter against San Clemente on Friday night in a showdown between two of the South Coast League’s top teams.

But for Mission Viejo to win, its defense had to come through again — just as it had for most of the game.

When Diablos defensive end Garrett Marino sacked the Tritons’ Travis Wilson with 1:46 left, Mission Viejo’s defense had saved the day, preserving a 29-21 victory.

No. 4 Mission Viejo improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in league play. No. 10 San Clemente dropped to 8-1, 2-1.

San Clemente’s Travis Wilson, who was 13 for 26 for 65 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception, threw a five-yard scoring pass to running back Mike Elespuru with 2:33 left, pulling the Tritons to within 29-21 after Bret Miller’s extra point.

The Tritons then recovered an onside kick, with Austin Baker coming up with the ball at their 49-yard line. But the Mission Viejo defense held, stopping San Clemente in four plays.

The Diablos used running backs Buzzy Yokoyama (12 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns) and Austin Reuland (16 carries for 83 yards and one score) to keep the ball from the Tritons.

San Clemente began the game undefeated, but it was Mission Viejo that played like the team to beat. The Diablos were efficient on offense, strong on defense and good on special teams, using those ingredients to open a 23-0 halftime lead.

Mission Viejo scored on its first two possessions in the first quarter, using the running game as the primary weapon. Yokoyama scored on a five-yard run for a 7-0 Diablos lead with 6:50 left in the first.

After forcing San Clemente to put after three plays, Mission Viejo struck again. Yokoyama set up his own score by breaking several tackles on 30-yard run. One play later, he ran 15 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Mission Viejo lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter.

San Clemente had an opportunity to score late in the first half, but Wilson missed two open teammates in the end zone, then was stopped short of a first down on Mission Viejo’s seven-yard line.

broderick.turner@latimes.com