El Modena Wins Battle of Defenses
Relying on a defense that has allowed only a field goal in its past three games, El Modena shut down Newport Harbor, 10-0, in a nonleague game Friday.
El Modena, 4-0 and the eighth-ranked team in Orange County, forced six Newport Harbor turnovers and limited the Sailors (2-2) to 182 yards total offense.
El Modena wasn’t that productive itself against Newport Harbor’s aggressive defense, gaining a total of 196 yards, but the Vanguards’ offense was more efficient, coming through with a 41-yard field goal by Alfred Romo and and Romo’s eight-yard touchdown reception from Jose Prado.
But it was on defense that this game was controlled. Newport Harbor quarterback Greg Williams had four passes intercepted, two by Romo.
With a passing game that was going nowhere, Newport Harbor depended on the run. Fronted by offensive linemen that average about 225 pounds, the Sailors’ offense ran the ball about twice as often as they passed. Running back Brandon Finney was finding holes off tackle, and broke runs of 43 and 53 yards in the first half, which were the Sailors’ longest gains.
“What can you say about their offense?” El Modena Coach Bill Backstrom asked. “They just try to beat you down. I’m glad our guys were up to the task.”
Only on two plays was that questionable.
On consecutive Newport Harbor possessions, and on plays that were almost identical, Finney broke through the right side of the line and into the open field, but was brought down from behind by El Modena defensive backs.
The first time, Chad LaBass caught up and tackled Finney at the Vanguard 19-yard line. A few anemic plays later, Wade Tift missed a 29-yard field goal.
After an El Modena punt, Mike Gear caught Finney from behind at the 15 and caused a fumble that James Clarkson recovered.
The two Finney runs--he rushed for 135 yards in 14 carries--were the sole chances to score for the Sailors, who have been shut out in their past two games.
El Modena’s offense only showed some life in one third-quarter series. Prado, who had entered the game averaging almost 200 yards passing, didn’t complete a pass in seven attempts in the first half. But on third-and-nine from the Sailors’ 48 during the third quarter, Prado completed a 40 yard pass to Jay Montano and then finished the drive with a eight-yard pass to Romo to give the Vanguards a 10-0 lead.