Linebackers Tackle Tough Questions Head-On : Inside Story: Gregg Clapper and Chris Wild of Mission Viejo say lack of emotion caused Diablos’ loss to Capistrano Valley.

MISSION VIEJO —  The persistent questioning began shortly after Mission Viejo High School’s 27-14 loss to Capistrano Valley last Friday night and continued Monday on campus.

“What happened?” was the million-dollar question that linebackers Gregg Clapper and Chris Wild were repeatedly asked after Mission Viejo had lost its first South Coast League game in three years.

“Everybody wanted to know what happened,” Clapper said. “My friends, my neighbors, even one of the members of our school board. All I could tell them was, ‘It wasn’t the Diablos who showed up.’ ”

“I heard the same thing,” Wild said. “It was a very humbling experience. I had never played on a team that lost to Capo Valley.”

Clapper, a three-year letterman at inside linebacker, experienced only his fourth loss in three years. Mission Viejo lost to Santa Ana and Los Alamitos in 1987 and to Paramount in the Division III semifinals last year.

Clapper says the team’s lack of emotion was a big reason that Mission Viejo, the county’s top-ranked team for four weeks, lost the game.

“It was uncharacteristic of a Mission Viejo sideline,” Clapper said. “We’ve always taken great pride in the 12th man on the sideline, and it was stone quiet that night. You expect the nonstarters to be as enthusiastic on the sideline as the starters on the field, but that wasn’t the case.”

Clapper, who is the team captain, vows a turnaround tonight when Mission Viejo (6-1) plays top-ranked El Toro (7-0) in Mission Viejo’s expanded stadium.

Clapper, who ranks near the top of his senior class with a 3.98 grade-point average, started only one game as a sophomore but took great pride in leading a spirited sideline corps that supported the starters. “I used to get migraines after the game from yelling so much on the sidelines,” he said.

This year, Clapper leads the team with 35 tackles and 22 assists. He also has two fumble recoveries and an interception. Wild is the team’s second-leading tackler with 28 tackles and 23 assists. He also has an interception and has caused a fumble.

Mission Viejo’s defense has allowed only 7.4 points a game, but Capistrano Valley exploited a new defensive front for 27 points last week. Mission Viejo had been using a five-man front most of the year, but went to a four-man front for most of the first half against Capistrano Valley.

“We switched back to our old defense in the second half, but it was too late,” Clapper said. “There was some second-guessing among the players with the new defense.”

Clapper and Wild also have made some significant changes in their athletic careers. Wild was a standout goalie in youth soccer leagues until he enrolled at Mission Viejo and became the freshman team’s starting quarterback.

Wild, 6-feet-2, 236 pounds, is the biggest player on the team. He admitted he was a poor passer and moved to defensive end midway through the season. He became a starting linebacker on the sophomore team and moved up to varsity when Mission Viejo advanced to the Southern Section playoffs.

“I gave up soccer and decided to dedicate myself to football in my freshman year,” Wild said. “I started lifting and tried to get as big and as quick as I could.”

Wild has gained 60 pounds and the attention of some major colleges since his freshman year. “I always thought soccer would be my sport,” he said. “My dream is to gain a college scholarship. My grades (2.7) are OK, but I never gave academics the effort. That was a mistake when I look back.”

Clapper is being recruited by several Ivy League schools, but hasn’t decided whether he will play football or soccer in college. He was the starting fullback on Mission Viejo’s soccer team that won the Southern Section’s 3-A division title last spring, defeating Santa Barbara, 2-1, in overtime.

“I love playing soccer,” Clapper said. “Soccer is what got me started (as a 7-year-old) in other sports. It’s different than playing football, but I was thrilled to win the championship.”

Clapper participated in youth sports in the same suburban area outside of Dallas where El Toro quarterback Steve Stenstrom began his athletic career. Clapper is well aware of the problems Stenstrom and El Toro’s offense present tonight.

“They’ve got everything . . . good quarterback, running backs, receivers and offensive linemen,” Clapper said. “But we’ve got great defensive linemen, linebackers, corners and safeties. We just have to play Diablo ball.”

Clapper and Wild were second-team all-league selections as juniors when Mission Viejo finished the regular season with a 10-0 record and was the top-ranked team in the county. Mission Viejo Coach Mike Rush ranks both of them among the best linebackers he has had in his 12 years at the school.

“Both are outstanding hitters,” Rush said. “Gregg is more of a finesse player while Wild is out of the same mold as (former Times’ all-county star) Jeff Pease.

“We’ve had some great linebackers in the 12 years I’ve been here. Jeff Pease and Penn Bushong were outstanding two years ago. I would have to say that Chris and Gregg are comparable to the best we’ve had at inside linebacker.”