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Mission Viejo plays host to Lincoln of San Diego in its annual “Mission For Heroes” football game Friday with the goals of remembering the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and growing the school’s community event.
The Diablos (2-1) face Lincoln (1-2) at Mission Viejo High at 7 p.m.
Mission Viejo is hosting several events in addition to the game, assistant coach and organizer Garrett Gray said.
There will be a pregame concert featuring the country band Redneck Rodeo, food trucks and a pregame ceremony honoring military, Gold Star family members who lost relatives in service and first responders.
“We bring the community together to celebrate,” Gray said. “Most of our honoree captains are all former players at Mission Viejo.”
On Sept. 15, 2001 — four days after the terrorist attacks — Mission Viejo played host to then-No. 1 Mater Dei before an overflow crowd at Mission Viejo High.
The Diablos won 28-14 but Gray said the score isn’t the legacy of the game.
“(Both schools) knew that the environment of a high school football game could reunite a community,” Gray said. “Both programs, Mater Dei and Mission, have established themselves as a program of service.”
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Mission Viejo began hosting games honoring the military in 2013 under former football coach Bob Johnson. The legendary coach died in March after long fight with Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2023, the Diablos hosted their inaugural Mission First Responders Night under coach Chad Johnson. Mission Viejo players wore uniforms recognizing Orange County Fire and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Mission Viejo’s annual event features a “field of flags” planted in the middle of its school campus by the history department. The 2,977 flags represent the number of victims from 9-11.
This year, guest speakers were added to the activities.
Gray said Mission Viejo would like to expand its 9-11 event into a showcase with multiple games.
“The mission is bigger than the game,” said Gray, whose Mission For Heroes Foundation supports the event. “We want to bring back the best of the best and showcase them all … and have them experience the same dynamic.”
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