ORANGE – El Modena coaches tried the “it’s just another game” approach to Thursday’s football contest against Villa Park.
El Modena’s players approached it differently.
“We worked really hard for this game,” said El Modena senior defensive tackle Esteban Choucair. “We hadn’t beaten them since 2007.”
El Modena ended that streak by defeating the Spartans 28-13 on Thursday night at El Modena High.
El Modena improved its record to 6-0 while Villa Park dropped to 2-4. The Vanguards are ranked No. 13 in the Orange County Top 25.
The Vanguards gave up a double-digit number of points for the first time this season. They have outscored their opponents 217-28.
Choucair and linebacker Owen Smith, who were both All-CIF selections last season, and linebackers Brodie Hitchens and Kyle Medel and lineman Davian Ceballos were among the many contributors to another fine defensive effort by the Vanguards.
“Our defense played well tonight,” said El Modena coach Matt Mitchell. “They’ve been playing hard and together as a group. We keep preaching ‘get to the ball and play as a team’ and that’s what we did tonight.”
Smith, a senior who also is El Modena’s leading rusher, on Thursday rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. He also had two receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.
El Modena sophomore quarterback Xzavior Guess completed 12 of 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Guess rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
The Vanguards’ Mayson Hitchens had two catches for 44 yards, one of them a reception of a short pass over the middle that he turned into a 38-yard gain by bowling over three defenders. He also was his usual disruptive self on defense at linebacker.
Villa Park struggled to establish an offensive flow and wounding up using two quarterbacks. Sophomore Nate Lewis started but was replaced during the game by junior Cooper Adams.
Lewis appeared to be dealing with a leg injury after the contest. Adams completed his final six passes to finish with 68 yards passing and a touchdown.
The Spartans, who are No. 15 in this week’s county rankings, have played a challenging schedule. Their four losses are to teams that entered this week with a combined 17-5 record.
El Modena dominated the first half, yards-wise, 201 yards of offense to Villa Park’s 61, but had a lead of only 7-3 at halftime.
Smith rushed for 20 and 12 yards on his first two carries, the first two plays from scrimmage of the game. El Modena’s game-opening possession ended when the Vanguards failed to convert on fourth-and-2 at the Villa Park 40 when Smith was tackled by Eddie Rodriguez for a 1-yard loss.
Villa Park got points on its first possession. Blake Califf kicked a 39-yard field goal to put the Spartans on top 3-0 midway through the first quarter.
El Modena’s ensuing drive ended on another fourth-down try, this one an incomplete pass on fourth-and-10 at the Villa Park 24.
El Modena got the game’s only first-half touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Guess to Sam Astor. Guess moved around and outside of the pocket before throwing to the open Astor at the back of the end zone for a 7-3 lead with 5:39 to go in the second quarter.
Early in the third quarter Hitchens recovered at Villa Park fumble at the Spartans 26 and returned it to the 5. Two plays later Smith scored on a 1-yard run around right end for a 14-3 lead.
Califf kicked another field goal, this one from 36 yards, to make it 14-6. Guess scored on a weaving-through-the-middle run of 28 yards to stretch the advantage to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Smith snuck behind coverage to pull in a 31-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead.
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Adams’ 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Leftwich with 2:29 remaining in the game completed the scoring.
Next week, El Modena plays Foothill in a nonleague game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Tustin High. The Vanguards begin North Hills League play Oct. 13 against El Dorado.
Villa Park has a nonleague game next week against Canyon, on Friday, Oct. 7 at El Modena. The Spartans start Crestview League games at Yorba Linda on Oct. 14.