On Offense and Defense, El Modena’s Gibson, Ennis Have the Line on Winning

It’s funny how the two biggest reasons for El Modena High School’s football success over the past three seasons have been virtually overlooked.

Quarterback Brett Johnson, receiver Ed Nasser and running back Sean Sawyer shared the headlines in the Vanguards’ two Southern Conference championship seasons. This season, the glory has gone to junior tailback Ross Bauer.

Meanwhile, linemen Don Gibson and Allen Ennis have played in obscurity in front of the large crowds that follow El Modena each week. The only thing flashy about these two giant linemen is the championship rings that adorn their large hands.

Gibson, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 250-pounder, and his best friend, Ennis, 6-1, 225, will start their 39th game Friday night when the Vanguards play host to Paramount in the opening round of the Southern Conference playoffs in Orange’s Fred Kelly Stadium.

With Gibson and Ennis in the lineup, the Vanguards have won 34 games. No other county team can match El Modena’s record in that span.

Winning football is nothing new to these two linemen. As ninth graders at Santiago Junior High in 1982, their team established the school’s best record at 7-0.

Santiago Coach George Benekos has followed the linemen’s careers since their graduation from junior high.

“We were in a class by ourselves when Don and Allen were at Santiago,” Benekos said. “I’m certain we could have beaten most high school sophomore teams. We dominated teams with those two guys.

“I’ve gone to nearly every game they’ve played at El Modena, and they’re still dominating teams. They’re two quality players that a coach gets once in a lifetime.”

Both are two-way starters who never leave the field. Offensively, Gibson starts at tackle and Ennis plays guard. They line up on the left side of the line, so it’s no secret which direction Bauer will run. Bauer has rushed for 1,485 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, Gibson and Ennis play tackle. Only one team, Pacifica, has had any success running against the Vanguards this season.

Gibson is considered the premier lineman, offensively and defensively, in the county. He has received letters from every Pacific 10 team, and Bob Lester, El Modena coach, said the senior “can go to any college in America.” Ennis, who has a 3.6 grade point average, is being recruited by Ivy League schools and the service academies.

Gibson’s older brother, Boomer, a former star player at El Modena, is a part-time starter at the University of Arizona. His younger brother, Craig, will graduate from Santiago in the spring.

Benekos said there was never any doubt about Gibson’s future as a player. Gibson began playing football when he was 9 years old. Benekos called him, “the best player who ever went to Santiago.”

“Don Gibson could have started for any high school in the ninth grade,” Benekos said. “He was 6-1 1/2 and 230 pounds as a ninth-grader. He could have played any position on the team. He’s going to be a great college player.”

Ennis is another story. He had never played contact football until he arrived at Santiago. Ennis blossomed into a star player with exceptional quickness for his size and his intelligence.

“Allen and Don were the biggest players in the school,” Benekos said. “We played Allen at guard for his first game, and then our fullback broke his leg. I moved Allen to fullback in our I-formation, and he put six kids out that season with his blocking. He’s a very tough kid.”

Benekos retired from coaching after Gibson and Ennis graduated. Both Benekos and Lester predict a big future for the two linemen.

Lester: “Gibson has the agility to get downfield and hit people. He’ll make a great pulling guard in college. Ennis will be a defensive player because he’s so quick. I see him playing middle or outside linebacker.”

Benekos: “Both are tough kids who are smart. The great thing about them was that I only had to tell them something once.”

Ennis and Gibson also share the same attitude toward which side of the line they prefer to play.

“It doesn’t matter to me which side of the line I play,” Gibson said. “I like playing defense a little more, but offense is more challenging.”

Ennis: “The difference (between playing defense and offense) is like work and play. Defense is fun, and offense is a lot of work. I think I’m a better defensive player, but I enjoy playing all the time.”

The victories, conference titles and championship rings are a testimony to their play. The two linemen claim that’s the way they always envisioned the life of a player at El Modena High.

“When we were in ninth grade,” Gibson said, “we talked about winning three CIF titles when we got to El Modena. We never thought about losing.”

Neither does Lester, as long as he has Don Gibson and Allen Ennis in the starting lineup.