El Modena Gets Defensive in 3-0 Victory

El Modena High School held Santa Ana Valley to 77 yards of total offense and made a single field goal stand up for a 3-0 victory Friday night in a Century League game at Fred Kelly Stadium.

A 33-yard field goal by Ron Murietta in the second quarter was all El Modena could manage against Santa Ana Valley, but El Modena Coach Bill Backstrom left no doubt about what it meant.

“At 1-4-1, I’d say I needed it pretty bad,” Backstrom said. “It keeps us in the race.”

Indeed, the victory kept the Vanguards (2-4-1, 1-1) near the top of the standings in the league. Because favorite Santa Ana was upset by Villa Park Thursday, the Century League standings are now jammed with 1-1 teams near the top.

Throughout the first half Friday, El Modena appeared to be on the brink of breaking into the end zone. Quarterback Adam Garcia, who completed nine of 11 passes for 100 yards in the half, was ripping apart the Santa Ana Valley defense with his passing.

But the Falcons’ defense held when it was necessary. A first-quarter interception by Michael Castleberry stopped one drive.

In the second half, El Modena--seemingly confident of its ability to hold Santa Ana Valley--controlled the ball with running plays. The Vanguards missed field goals attempts of 43 and 38 yards.

Only last week, Santa Ana Valley (2-4-1, 1-1) had beaten Canyon, 31-0, behind a powerful running attack led by Jesse Brooks, who gained 178 yards.

But Friday, El Modena’s defense was allowing nothing of that sort. Brooks carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards and Valley quarterback James Stewart ran seven times for 28 yards.

That was the bulk of the Falcon offense. Neither Stewart nor Gary Graves, who alternated at quarterback, completed a pass. Stewart was zero for five. Graves, who is ostensibly the Falcons’ passing specialist, was zero for six, his misses coming during the Falcons’ fourth-quarter comeback attempt.