No. 1 El Toro Dominates El Modena : Bret Johnson Throws for 4 Touchdowns in 37-14 Charger Win

The El Toro High School football team showed no mercy to El Modena or the El Toro rooting section Friday night at Mission Viejo High School.

The Chargers, the No. 1-ranked team in Orange County, walloped El Modena, 37-14, in front of 2,200.

El Modena had just one serious drive in the first half--to the El Toro 36--and that ended with a fumble. The Vanguards scored twice in the fourth quarter, but with El Toro already well ahead.

Now to the fans. Those poor, hungry El Toro fans. Frightened to leave their seats for a hot dog for fear the streaky El Toro offense would strike.

In its first two possessions, El Toro gained three yards with quarterback Bret Johnson missing on four straight passes.

But before a person could pick up a box of candy, Johnson completed 6 straight passes for 139 yards and 3 touchdowns. And all this in less than five minutes of possession time.

Did I miss something?

Here’s what: El Toro started its third possession at the El Modena 43. Johnson completed a sideline pass to Scott Miller, who stepped out of bounds on the eight. On the next play, Johnson lofted a ball to the corner of the end zone, and Miller made a diving catch for the touchdown.

El Toro took the ball next on the El Modena 46. One running play, a 20-yard pass play to Miller and a nine-yard run put the ball on the El Modena 14.

Johnson, with a play-action fake, rolled right and completed the pass to Miller, who put such a fake on El Modena’s Gabe Torres that Torres fell down and Miller scored.

Next, El Toro began at its 33. Four plays later, Miller pulled in a 45-yard pass for his third touchdown reception.

Johnson does throw to other people. He was 12 for 24 for 222 yards and 4 touchdowns. The fourth was of 13 yards and went to Lance Doalson.

Johnson completed passes to seven receivers, but Miller was by far his favorite. Miller caught 5 passes for 112 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

El Toro Coach Bob Johnson said he didn’t know if Miller’s injury was serious, then added: “It can’t be. We don’t allow that kind of stuff here.”

Asked if there was any talk around the El Toro practice field about the No. 1 ranking, Johnson said:

“Sure. . . . They read what you guys write and they get all pumped up. It’s our job to humble them. And they do get humbled at practice.”

El Toro kicker Chris Sekeres closed out the scoring for the Chargers with a 40-yard field goal.

Wide receiver John Thompson scored both of El Modena’s touchdowns, the first on a 15-yard reverse, the second on a two-yard pass from running back Ross Bauer on a halfback option play.