Tsui Scores 3 Touchdowns for Villa Park

Villa Park clinched a tie for the Century League championship as running back Ryan Tsui scored three touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a 31-14 victory over Foothill Friday night at El Modena High School.

The Spartans (7-2, 4-0 in league) will have a chance to win the title outright next week when they play previously undefeated El Modena, which was upset by Orange, 28-14, Thursday night.

Tsui gained 125 yards rushing in 20 carries and caught a pass for 30 yards to lead Villa Park.

The Spartans spotted Foothill (2-7, 1-3) to a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Ethan Taub’s 47-yard kickoff return set up quarterback Steve Wielandt’s 21-yard touchdown run.

Villa Park took the ensuing kickoff 68 yards to set up Joe Hernandez’ 29-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Spartans pulled away in the second quarter on an 80-yard touchdown drive, culminated by quarterback A.J. Strapp’s eight-yard scoring pass to fullback Don Bladow.

Jason Braun’s pass interception on the Knight 35-yard line set up the first of Tsui’s touchdowns, a six-yarder with 47 seconds remaining in the half for a 17-7 Spartan lead. Braun’s recovery of a third-quarter Knight fumble on the Foothill 39 set up another six-yard scoring run by Tsui for a 24-7 lead.

After Tim Chaix’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Mike Urbanski narrowed the lead to 24-14, Villa Park drove 66 yards with Tsui scoring his final touchdown from the two-yard-line.