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San Pedro football unable to slow down El Modena in SoFi Stadium game

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INGLEWOOD — San Pedro had no answer for El Modena’s offense through the first 30 minutes during Thursday’s nonleague matchup at SoFi Stadium.

El Modena scored on its first five possessions on the way to defeating San Pedro 34-14.

“We lost containment a few times and it felt like the first game of the year,” San Pedro coach Corey Walsh said. “(El Modena) smacked us in the mouth. We didn’t execute or play assignment football.”

San Pedro’s initial drive was evident of the struggles it would have in the first half. After picking up a first down, the Pirate offense stalled at midfield. The Pirates were limited to 64 yards in the opening half and three first-down conversions.

“We got behind the chains in the first half and weren’t able to get in our rhythm,” Walsh said.

El Modena (2-3) found its rhythm quick.

On its first four plays, the Vanguards totaled 41 yards, moving the ball to the Pirate side of the field. Keying on the Pirate aggressiveness to stop Jason Ramos, quarterback Ethan Sorenson picked up 15 yards on a misdirection.

The Pirate defense held, forcing El Modena into a 4th-and-3 situation from the Pirate 8.

“The goalposts kind of scared us there, so that’s why we went for it,” El Modena coach Matt Mitchell said.

Hayden Esparza scored on the next play, putting El Modena ahead 7-0.

After San Pedro (2-3) went three-and-out on its next drive, the Vanguard offense was back on the attack. This time, Sorenson spread the ball around before Esparza’s 8-yard scoring run with 10:26 to play in the second quarter made it a 14-0 game.

Already without running back/linebacker Darren Riingen, San Pedro lost running back/linebacker Derrick Johnson (lower body injury) late in the first quarter.

“We were already down one main running back, that hurt. They also start on defense so we’re digging into our depth,” Walsh said. “It didn’t help with (Riingen) out. (Johnson) is a two-way guy, so it’s like losing two players.”

A bad snap on a Pirate fourth down with 6:16 to play in the opening half gave El Modena the ball at the San Pedro 40. After the Pirate defense forced the Vanguards into another 4th-and-3 situation, this time from the 7, El Modena went for it again. Sorenson found Ramos for a 7-yard scoring pass.

“We had a few ideas, a couple of plays in mind on fourth down and had some stuff ready to go,” Mitchell said. “We executed tonight.”

El Modena was successful on each of its three fourth-down conversions in the first half while earning 12 first downs. The third fourth-down conversion came one play before Sorenson’s second touchdown pass to Ramos that gave the Vanguards a 28-0 advantage with 47 seconds left in the opening half.

“Our balance of run and pass (was working), kept ourselves out of that second-and-long, third-and-long situation,” Mitchell said. “Getting that first down was huge to get momentum to keep drives going.”

El Modena scored on the first drive of the second half to make it 34-0 before San Pedro responded, getting some fourth down magic of its own. After getting the ball to the Vanguard 45, Seth Solorio connected with Elias Redlew for a 23-yard connection, three plays before Solorio found Redlew for a 21-yard touchdown.

Two plays into the ensuing drive, Pirate cornerback Jaxon Brown intercepted Sorenson.

Again, the Pirates picked up a key fourth-down conversion on a designed Solorio sneak and later, Solorio and Brown connected for a 10-yard touchdown. Solorio finished with 160 yards and 2 touchdowns and an interception, completing 15 of 27 passes. Redlew had 103 receiving yards while Brown had 59.

“It’s evident,” Walsh said of the connection between Solorio, Redlew and Brown. “They keep making plays. Those are our guys and we’re able to spread the ball around.”

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