Mission Viejo Buries Canyon

With its starting quarterback unable to play because of a shoulder injury, Mission Viejo turned to its super sub, Marty Tadman, who responded with three touchdown passes in the Diablos’ 48-14 victory over Canyon Country Canyon on Friday night in a Southern Section Division III quarterfinal playoff game at Canyon Country.

Tadman, who is more mobile than starter Josh Rodarmel, completed nine of 13 passes for 148 yards and also rushed for 43 yards to help top-seeded Mission Viejo (12-0) win its 26th consecutive game.

“He’s just an unbelievable athlete for us,� Coach Bob Johnson said of Tadman. “He just wants the ball in his hands, and that’s a great gift for a quarterback.�

Tadman guided the Diablos to four consecutive victories when Rodarmel broke his collarbone earlier this season. Rodarmel is still a week away from being available, but Tadman doesn’t mind filling in.

“It feels awesome,� he said.

Tadman had plenty of help. Ryan Holmes scored three touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards in 16 carries. Defensive end Justin Williams had four of his team’s six sacks. And 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive tackle Drew Radovich was a man among boys, clearing the way for Mission Viejo backs.

“He’s going to play on Sundays,� Canyon Coach Harry Welch said of Radovich.

Canyon (10-2) tied the score at 7-7 with five minutes left in the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Nate Longshore to Louis Montano.

Mission Viejo, ranked No. 2 by The Times, scored the next four touchdowns to break the game open.

Longshore, a junior quarterback, finished 17 of 30 for 180 yards. He ended the season with 2,088 yards passing, the first time since 1988 a Canyon quarterback has surpassed the 2,000-yard mark.

Eric Sondheimer

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Newhall Hart 48, Chino Hills Ayala 16 -- The rain did little to stop the Indians’ passing game, or rushing game, in a quarterfinal at Ayala.

Second-seeded Hart (11-0-1) rolled up 547 yards of offense, including 284 on the ground, and Paxton Howard rushed for two first-half touchdowns. Sean Norton completed seven of his nine first-half passes for 103 yards.

The No. 4-ranked Indians scored two touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to make the score 34-3 with four minutes left in the third quarter before Ayala could get its offense going.

The Bulldogs scored their first touchdown on Nathan Davenport’s 29-yard catch-and-run.

Hart plays No. 18 San Clemente, a 13-9 winner over No. 9 Chino, in a semifinal on Friday.

James Lee

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Claremont 35, La Verne Damien 27 -- The Wolfpack held Damien four times on their two-yard line in the game’s final seconds to preserve a quarterfinal victory at Claremont.

Trailing by eight points, Damien took possession at its 18-yard line with 2:28 left. In 11 plays, the Spartans drove 80 yards to Claremont’s two -- aided by a 44-yard pass play from Nick Davila to Freddie Brown Jr. on fourth and 16 -- with 22 seconds left.

But Davila threw three incomple passes and Jon McConnell and Andre Green stuffed Daniel Venti at the one on the final play of the game.

Claremont (9-2) plays top-seeded Mission Viejo in a semifinal on Dec. 7.

-- Josh Kleinbaum