PREP FOOTBALL : Century League : El Modena Has the Right Combination

Trey Frank, an El Modena High School receiver, thought for a split second and grinned.

There was no question. His 3 touchdown catches Thursday night were the most he had ever had in a game.

“This was definitely tops,” Frank said. “I’ve caught one. Never two.”

And never three.

All told, Frank caught 5 passes for 123 yards, helping El Modena to a 30-7 Century League victory over Santa Ana Valley in front of 500 at Orange Coast College.

“The quarterback did a great job,” Frank said.

That would be Adam Garcia, a sophomore who took over at quarterback several games into the season.

Against the Falcons, Garcia threw only 2 incomplete passes, connecting on 10 of 12 for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“Garcia threw them perfect, right on the nose,” Frank said. “And let me credit the line, they did a great job of pass blocking.”

Frank, who also plays strong safety, had 1 other catch--an interception in the end zone that helped prevent the Falcons from taking a 14-0 lead.

Santa Ana Valley (3-4-1, 2-1) took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter after Jesse Lynch recovered a fumble by Pat Finn at the El Modena 35. Two plays later, Augustine Osegura connected with Laurin Castellanos on a 35-yard touchdown pass.

The Falcons might easily have taken a 14-0 lead only minutes later, after Anthony Wiggins recovered an El Modena fumble at the 11 on the Vanguards’ next possession.

But a pass by running back Jesse Brooks was intercepted by Frank in the end zone.

El Modena (3-5, 2-1) took over from there, taking a 14-7 lead by haltime on Garcia’s touchdown passes to Frank of 13 and 24 yards.

In the third quarter, David Cloer intercepted an Osegura pass at about the Falcon 42 and returned it to the 2 before stepping out of bounds. Marcus Esposito carried for the touchdown 2 plays later. Tim Hatcher’s extra-point attempt was no good, but his 42-yard field goal later in the quarter gave El Modena a 23-7 lead.

The Vanguards finished their scoring the way they began it, with another Garcia-to-Frank touchdown, this one an end-of-the-quarter bomb that went for a 60-yard touchdown.