PREP NOTES

The Mission Viejo-Irvine game Friday night was more than a South Coast League season opener. It was The Showdown of Masterplanned Communities.

Perhaps that explains the atmosphere for most of the game--sleepy, quiet and uninspired.

How bad was it?

So bad that Mission Viejo’s public address announcer, Harvey Ohman, was inspired to make this announcement in the third quarter:

“There was a Supreme Court ruling this week,” Ohman said dryly. “You are now allowed to cheer at football games.”

Not even the Diablo cheerleaders could stir the home crowd.

When they finally got Mission Viejo fans to say “We’ve got the spirit. Yes we do. We’ve got the spirit. How ‘bout you? “ Irvine fans said nothing in return.

Of course, unlike Mission Viejo, the Irvine side was understandably caught up in the game. Irvine won, 16-13, beating the Diablos for the first time in school history.