El Modena Sputters Its Way to Victory Over Ocean View

El Modena went through the motions Saturday night, at times taking two steps forward and one back. But, against the Ocean View High School football team, it was enough for a 24-3 nonleague victory at El Modena.

It wasn’t that the Vanguards played poorly, they just did a good job of stopping themselves. Which was more than Ocean View could do.

The Vanguards (3-0) rolled up 409 yards. They were balanced, gaining 222 yards rushing and 187 passing.

But there were moments when El Modena seemed to be treading water.

“I thought we did a real good job moving the ball and we mixed things up well,” Coach Bill Backstrom said. “We just sputtered a little here and there.”

The Vanguards fumbled on their first possession, giving Ocean View the ball on the 11-yard line. El Modena also failed on a fourth-and-goal play at the five. Finally, a 61-yard Jose Prado-to-Darryll Holguin completion ended another fumble at the Ocean View 15.

“Those perfect games are nice, but it’s how you do when things don’t go so well that make your season,” Backstrom said.

From that perspective, the Vanguards came through with flying colors.

Even with the turnovers, missteps and 80 yards in penalties, they were more than a match for Ocean View (1-2).

Prado got the offense in gear in the second quarter, when the Vanguards scored 14 points. He threw six-yard touchdown passes to Holguin and Jay Montano. Prado, who completed 15 of 22 passes for 187 yards, also scored the final touchdown, on a four-yard run.

The rushing game was solid, with Tom Mazzone gaining 103 yards in 17 carries and James Clarkston getting 68 yards in 10 carries.

The defense also was solid, limiting Ocean View’s run-and-shoot offense to 169 yards.

The Seahawks also lent a hand, in a run-and-bumble fashion. They fumbled twice and two of quarterback Joe Fraser’s passes were intercepted.