Mission crushes Salesian, advances to CIF title game

Posted: Nov 23, 2012 11:58 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Nov 24, 2012 12:01 AM

Friday Night Highlights - CIF Semifinals, 11-23-12

The Mission Prep offense erupted for nearly 500 yards, while the defense made some clutch plays in the Royals' 54-26 CIF semifinal win over Salesian on Friday. Making their first semifinal appearance since 1962, the Royals built a 15-0 first quarter lead and never looked back.

"When you don't play in a league it's pretty much CIF or bust. So for us this is what we've been working for, now we have an opportunity that we're here. And it's something extremely special. I mean 50 years, it's an amazing feeling," said head coach Chad Henry.

The top seeded Royals improved to 12-1 and face second seeded Rio Hondo Prep next Friday in the Northeast Division championship game. The game will be played in Arcadia at Rio Hondo Prep, a place where Mission won its third game of the season 47-14 to knock off the then-top ranked Kares.

Quarterback Tyler Baty hit Andrew DeRosa for a 49 yard touchdown, his first TD catch of the season, to put Mission on the board first 7-0. The defense recorded a safety off a fumbled snap to give the Royals a 9-0 lead. After a second fumbled snap by Salesian was recovered by Mission, Baty ran it in from a yard out to give the Royals a 15-0 lead after the first quarter.

After Salesian scored to make it a 15-6 game, Baty connected twice with receiver Joey Hall in the second quarter to give the Royals a 29-6 lead. Salesian scored to close to within 29-12 before Baty hit Hall for a third time in the quarter to give Mission a 34-12 lead at halftime.

Patrick Laird, who had more than 200 yards of total offense and 3 touchdowns last week, erupted in the second half. He scored two rushing touchdowns and caught a TD pass from Baty to cap another huge offensive night by the Royals.

All told, Baty completed 8 of his 15 passes for 186 yards and 5 touchdown passes. He now has 43 TD passes this season to go with 6 interceptions.

Laird rushed for 198 yards and 2 scores on just 12 carries. He added 2 catches for 35 yards and another touchdown. Hall caught 4 passes for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns to give him 22 TD catches on the night.

"It means everything. We've been working 4 years for this and it's just amazing to finally have done it and we're going to come out hard this next week," added Hall.

Calvin Levisay and Trevor Fernandez each had one interception for Mission.

Rio Hondo Prep beat St. Monica 42-14 in the semifinals on Friday to set up the matchup next Friday.