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HUNTINGTON BEACH — Mission Viejo’s Vance Spafford arrived at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament Saturday with some extra attention because of his blistering 40-yard dash two weekends ago in Florida.
“It’s about all I get talked about,” the wide receiver said with a smile of his clocking of 4.35 seconds.
Spafford and teammates left Edison High with another highlight that will certainly be a talking point before the football season.
The junior caught an 18-yard touchdown from quarterback Luke Fahey on the final play of an intense championship game to lift the Diablos to a 26-25 victory and their second Battle at the Beach title in the past three years.
It’s a walk-off TD for the Battle of the Beach @LukeFahey03 to @vance_spafford Mission Viejo wins again! pic.twitter.com/F49t107Dbg
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) July 13, 2024
Mission Viejo also beat the Braves in the ’22 final.
“I feel we, for sure, have the best skills in Orange County,” Spafford said. “I think we got a good shot to take it all this year (in) D1.”
Spafford capped a dominating day with the winning score along with a long reception that set up the final play.
Earlier in the championship, the 5-foot-10 Spafford caught a deep TD that answered a long scoring reception by Carson Clark of St. John Bosco.
Spafford also hauled in long touchdown receptions against Santa Margarita in semifinals and JSerra in pool play.
He accomplished it all after missing the Diablos’ title run at their South County tournament two weekends ago because of his participation in Under Armour’s Future 50 event in Florida. That’s where he clocked his 40-yard dash.
“He’s probably the best receiver in California,” Mission Viejo coach Chad Johnson said of Spafford, a first-team All-County selection last season. “When you can run 4.35 electric laser (timed) at Under Armour … it’s hard to run with someone like that.”
“I’m happy I ran that time,” Spafford added. “It’s what I’ve been working at.”
The finale featured two skirmishes, including one that resulted in one player from each team being ejected. Both squads chalked the incidents up to competitiveness.
Mission Viejo utilized several other playmakers.
Senior wide receiver Phillip Bell III, whose mother recently died, caught a touchdown from Draiden Trudeau in the championship. Slot receiver Cash Semonza hauled in another score.
“Phillip Bell played really well today for coming back from the very emotional couple weeks,” Johnson said. “I thought Jeron (Jones) and DJ (Lee) played well at corner.”
St. John Bosco featured junior Matai Fuiava and freshman Kóa Malau’ulu at quarterback in the championship. The Braves played without standout receivers Madden Williams and Daniel Odom due to injuries.
In the semifinals, the Braves rallied late to edge Edison 27-21 on an interception by sophomore safety Isala Wily-Ava and touchdown reception by Jeremy Lenore.
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