El Modena Not Lulled by Foothill’s 2-2 Record

One team is 2-2 and struggling to find an offense that can stay on the field long enough to give its defense a break. The other has scored an average of more than 25 points per game.

One is ranked No. 1 in Orange County and has a 12-game winning streak dating back to last October. The other is unranked and has won its last two games to get even.

They will meet tonight--a Thursday --in Fred Kelly Stadium.

Is this any way to run a rivalry?

Foothill-El Modena games aren’t supposed to just be played. They’re supposed to be showcased before overflow crowds. The game is supposed to be the talk of Friday night. There is supposed to be a Century League championship at stake.

But there are indications that this game may not be as big an event as some of the storied Foothill-El Modena games that have preceded it. Where’s the marquee value? Is this still a “Big Game?”

“It isn’t to the public, I’m sure,” Foothill Coach Ted Mullen said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit.

“But, as far as the two schools go, this game is always big. I just know that if I were a football fan in Orange County, the way this game has gone the last three or four years, I’d make it a point to go out and see it no matter what it looked like.”

It looks like a lopsided victory for El Modena. The Vanguards have outscored their first four opponents, 103-35. Foothill has been outscored, 62-45. And the Knights will be without quarterback Chris Fergus, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s 17-10 win over Santa Ana. Senior Brian Horton, who has seen only limited playing time, will replace Fergus.

The Knights were unimpressive in losing to Capistrano Valley and La Quinta by identical 26-7 scores. But El Modena Coach Bob Lester isn’t expecting the renewal of this rivalry will be the slightest bit one-sided.

“I’m convinced that he (Mullen) threw those first two games just to set us up,” Lester said laughing. “This is exactly the way it was last year. We were ranked No. 1 and Ted came in and knocked us off.”

True, Foothill did upset El Modena, last Oct. 12, 21-6. But El Modena hasn’t lost a game since. The Vanguards’ winning streak includes a 26-0 win over Esperanza in last season’s Southern Conference championship game. And El Modena has more key players returning from that team than Foothill has from a team that finished 10-2 and reached the second round of the playoffs. “We’re just real inexperienced,” Mullen said. “We’re still struggling with our affairs. This game’s usually a tossup, but this year, I think it’s pretty much a forgone conclusion.”

Well, some things haven’t changed. Whenever these coaches get together, they make it a point to playfully build up one another’s team. The personalities of Lester and Mullen are a big part of what has made this rivalry so much fun.

The Bob and Ted Show may have been moved to Thursday night this fall, but the dialogue is about the same.

Lester: “We’re a long way from being a good football team. If you don’t believe me, ask Ted Mullen. You might have to hypnotize him to get the truth.”

Mullen: “I just hope they don’t beat us up so much that it’s out of reach at the half.”

Lester: “They’ve struggled a little offensively . . . 95% of the teams do this early in the season. But I tell ya, their defense right now is as sound as any in the county.”

Mullen: “This year, they just outman us too much.”

Lester: “We’re definitely not a juggernaut. We’re just trying to struggle through this thing one more time.”

EMPIRE LEAGUE Esperanza (1-0, 1-2) vs. Los Alamitos (1-0, 4-0) at Gahr Stadium--The Aztecs beat Cypress, 27-2, in last week’s league opener for their first win of the season. Los Alamitos is off to a surprising start behind the passing combination of quarterback J.T. Snow and wide receiver Robbie Katzaroff. Esperanza is trying to rebound after opening the season with losses to Marina, El Modena and Riverside Poly, all by the score of 21-7.

In other Empire League action, Katella (0-1, 1-3) meets El Dorado (1-0, 3-1) at Bradford Stadium.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE Estancia (0-1, 2-2) vs. Woodbridge (1-0, 3-1) at Irvine Stadium--This game marks the second step in Woodbridge’s quest for respectability this season. One local newspaper picked the Warriors to finish last in the league, posting odds of them winning the league title at 60-1. Estancia opened league play by watching Newport Harbor quarterback Shane Foley throw five touchdown passes in the first half of Newport’s 42-27 win.

NONLEAGUE Huntington Beach (2-2) vs. Mater Dei (2-2) at Santa Ana Stadium--Both teams are in search of consistency and momentum in their final nonleague tuneup. Mater Dei is coming off a 14-11 upset of Westminster. The Monarchs will need all the momentum they can get for next week’s Angelus League opener against St. Paul (4-0).

Other nonleague games: Sonora (1-3) vs. Santiago (4-0) at Garden Grove Stadium; Los Amigos (1-2-1) vs. Laguna Hills (0-4) at Mission Viejo Stadium; Westminster (3-1) at Long Beach Wilson (3-0); and Rancho Alamitos (2-1) vs. Magnolia (3-1) at Glover Stadium.