Photos: Mission Viejo High Spring Football Preview

After turning in a nearly flawless 2010 football season, one that ended on the brink of a state championship berth with a loss to Servite in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 title game, the Mission Viejo Diablos returned to the field for the first time in front of their home faithful Thursday evening at Diablo Stadium for a brisk, 50-minute practice that coach Bob Johnson opened to the public.

With several hundred fans looking on, Johnson emceed the event from the field, introducing players as they ran through drills, and talking about the prospects of a new season on the horizon, one that promises another gaudy win-loss record and perhaps a few more titles for Mission Viejo's storied program.

"It's been great," Johnson said of the spring session. "It's spring ball, so you can't get too excited about it, but it's gone real well."

Former all-county linebacker Tre Madden, who will head to Los Angeles and the tutelage of Lane Kiffin at USC in the fall, walked the sidelines Thursday night with a broad smile and a handshake for anyone within spitting distance, and kept a close eye on senior-to-be tailback Jahleel Pinner, who has signed with the Trojans as well.

Pinner, a bruising runner with prototypical NFL size and speed, will be Mission Viejo's bread-and-butter back in the fall, especially considering the type of left-side the Diablos feature along their offensive front.

Both left tackle Colby Cyburt (6 feet 5, 270 pounds) and left guard Austin Maass (6-4, 285) are future NCAA Division 1 offensive linemen and returning starter Kevin Carroll is a heady grinder of a center, the second-most important position on the field.

If seniors Chance McCall and Douglas Hanson win would should be a battle with some talented juniors for starting positions at right guard and tackle, respectively, the Diablos would roll out an imposing offensive line that featured four players at 6-foot-4 or taller, all seniors, and all players well-conditioned and extremely well-versed in both foot and handwork.

Those prospects should have returning starting quarterback, senior Alex Bridgford, and his stable of weapons in the Mission Viejo backfield salivating heading into summer workouts.

"We have a lot of good returners," Johnson said. "We got an offensive front, a running back and a quarterback, and those are all there."

Perhaps the jewel atop Johnson's pile of riches is Bridgford, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound southpaw signal-caller, who conjures images of Mark Brunell at the University of Washington, or Steve Young with the 49ers. 

Bridgford completed just under 60 percent of his passes as a high school junior, a percentage that should only increase in 2012, with slot receiver Austin Reuland spearheading a physical and fast receiving corps that includes seniors Josiah Robins and Brandon Neville split out wide.

A season ago, Bridgford earned second-team all-county honors after completing 142 of 239 passes for 2,417 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions, and he showed the ability to find open lanes, especially over the middle, and to remain accurate outside of the pocket as well. 

Like many left-handed quarterbacks, Bridgford is especially adept at rolling out and throwing on the run, an attribute that Johnson can exploit with what should be a bounty of play-action opportunities set up by a constant barrage of Pinner dives, counters and draws.

"Defensively, we got bigger up front, which I think we needed to add," Johnson said. "We got some good secondary guys coming back, a couple backers coming back. It's good stuff."

On the other side of the ball, Mission Viejo returns more than its fair share of ball-hawks in the secondary.

Senior corner Doug Ruggles has good size and excellent hands to go along with a nose for the football, and junior safety Max Redfield is a beast of an athlete who, like most of his Diablo cohorts, loves to hit.

Senior Daniel Brick, whose name befits the stalwart interior defensive lineman, and senior end Elliott Washington bring size and experience to the defensive line, which should help to open up plenty of tackles for senior linebackers Wes Hartmann and Ryan Harris.

Keeping in tune with the offense and defense, Mission's special teams will be just that, special, in 2011 as well.

Senior kicker Zach Christiansen will also handle the punting duties for the Diablos, and that's not a bad thing. Christiansen didn't punt a football less than 50 yards at practice on Thursday.

Senior long snapper Josh Antol and Christiansen have a close relationship, and the two should prove a valuable tandem in close-game situations.

Mission Viejo's 2011 Varsity Football Schedule
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Bakersfield Centennial, TBD

Saturday, Sept. 10 at Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey), TBD

Friday, Sept. 16 vs. La Quinta, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23 vs. Long Beach Poly, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30 at Carson, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7 at Redlands East Valley, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14 at Dana Hills *

Friday, Oct. 28 vs. San Clemente *

Friday, Nov. 4 vs. Tesoro *

Friday, Nov. 11 at Trabuco Hills *

* Indicates South Coast League game