MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — You’ve heard it before: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

And in a pandemic-shortened season, that couldn’t be more true for coach Chad Johnson and the Mission Viejo Diablos, who had the first game of a scheduled six-game season canceled when several players in the program tested positive for COVID-19.

But since then, Missio Viejo has left no doubt that they're one of the top programs in Southern California. And as they opened league play on Friday, Johnson and the Diablos looked to make a statement against crosstown rival Tesoro.

Both teams got off to a slow start, but Mission Viejo scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead into halftime.

The Diablos' offense was led in large part by quarterback Kadin Semonza, who was 18-26 passing with 202 yards and 3 touchdown. Wide receiver Mikey Matthews also had a big game with 8 receptions and 2 touchdowns.

Tesoro scored once in both the third and fourth quarters, but Mission Viejo's offense kept the pedal to the metal and ended up winning by a final score of 44-13.

Mission Viejo takes on San Juan Hills at home next week on April 9.