PHOTOS: Mission Viejo gets defensive and captures 23-6 victory over La Habra

Michael Matthews (80) congratulates Tyson Scott after Scott’s 7-yard run gave Mission Viejo its first score in a 23-6 win over La Habra. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone)

For one game at least it is reasonable to declare that Mission Viejo’s self-named “Fearsome Foursome” is as good as advertised.

To see the photos, please click on the first photo

Mission Viejo's John Burns blocked a punt by La Habra's Daniel Barrales for a safety.

Mission Viejo Coach Chad Johnson instructs his offense during a timeout in Friday's 23-6 win over La Habra.

Mission Viejo's Keanu Tanuvasa (57) sacks La Habra quarterback Ryan Zanelli.

Kris Koontz caught a 4th-and-4 pass for 5 yards from Ryan Zanelli for La Habra's only score.

All-around athlete Daniel Barrales, tackling Mission Viejo quarterback Peter Costelli for a loss, had a strong game for La Habra.

Mission Viejo's Jacquez Robinson appeared down at the seven on this play, but was lying on top of a Highlander defender and he was able to pop up and run to the end zone on a 10-yard play that gave his team a 16-6 halftime lead over La Habra.

Mission Viejo defenders John Burns (16) and Brenndan Waredy (44) break up a pass intended for La Habra's Clark Phillips.

Mission Viejo defender Reece Bailey (6) wraps up La Habra's Brandon Vasquez after a short gain.

Friday night the Diablos’ defensive front of Kale Parks, Roce Lachmish, Keanu Tanuvasa, Lance Keneley and Ryan Ewing (that’s five, but they use only four at a time) dominated the line of scrimmage as Mission Viejo (3-0) and ranked 7^th in the CIF’s Division 1/2 slowed La Habra’s explosive offense to a crawl in a 23-6 victory in the Highlanders’ shiny new stadium Friday night.

The Highlanders, 2-1 and third in the CIF’s Division 3, entered Friday’s clash having scored 77 points in their first two games. There would be no such explosiveness against the Diablos, who held the La Habra offense to minus-13 yards rushing and vaunted quarterback Ryan Zanelli, who spent the evening running for his life, to 122 yards passing.

La Habra’s only score came on a short field opportunity from the Diablo 29 in the second quarter and the Highlanders capitalized when Zanelli hit Chris Koontz with a 5-yard TD pass on fourth-and-4 with 6:04 remaining in the second quarter.

Whatever euphoria resulted, the TD pulled the Highlanders within three, 9-6, with a PAT to come, evaporated almost immediately.

The holder on the PAT attempt was sent off the field because he wasn’t wearing his teeth guard (it was clipped on the side of his facemask). There is no yardage penalty for such an action but the player is required to leave the game for one play. A hurried replacement mishandled the snap and the kick never got off the ground.

Mission Viejo then responded by storming 76 yards for a score abetted by two decisive plays, the first being a 31-yard run by Brenndan Warady on a fake punt on 4^th-and-7 and then the second when Jacquez Robertson, who appeared down at the 7, popped up from the Highlander defender under him and bolted 10 yards for a score and a 16-6 Diablo lead with 2:36 to play in the half.

Mission Viejo scored its last TD in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by linebacker Easton Mascarenas out of its power package.

Mission Viejo scored its first touchdown on its first drive of the night when Tyson Scott ran seven yards for a score, on the 11^th play of an 80-yard march. The Diablos made in 9-0 later in the first quarter when John Burns blocked a La Habra punt which was recovered in the end zone by the Highlanders for a safety.

The teams resume play Friday with Mission Viejo hosting Villa Park and La Habra travelling to Calabasas.

RELATED: Defensive line steps up for Diablos

-Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone