Capistrano Valley Survives El Modena’s Option Attack

Although much didn’t go right for Capistrano Valley against El Modena Friday night, enough did when it mattered and the eighth-ranked Cougars escaped with a 19-15 victory at El Modena.

Dan Geiss’ three-yard touchdown dive with 1 minute 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Cougars (3-2) the winning margin and their defense held off charging El Modena. Geiss’ touchdown was his third of the game--to go with 168 yards in 28 carries--and completed a 10-play, 80-yard drive that gave Cougar Coach Eric Patton reason to be relieved.

“About all the good you can say about it is that we won and that’s what matters,” Patton said. “When you fumble away opportunities and throw interceptions and you don’t defend a basic offensive football play. . . . We’re not playing very well right now.”

El Modena (3-1), which had yet to be tested by a strong team this season, didn’t fold against Capistrano Valley, which is expected to be among the favorites in the South Coast League.

The Vanguards scored 15 consecutive second-half points by exposing the Capistrano Valley defense’s weakness against the option. During most of the first half, the Cougars didn’t give El Modena quarterback Matt Mitchell any breathing room. Mitchell’s first two passes were intercepted--one was Bron Witten’s fifth of the season--and he managed only 12 yards passing in the first half.

Mitchell’s second-half passing statistics weren’t much better, but after El Modena switched to an option attack, he got the Vanguards moving on the ground.

Mitchell had gains of 15 and six yards during a 78-yard touchdown drive that cut Capistrano Valley’s lead to 12-6 with 57 seconds left in the third quarter. Dave Martinez completed the drive with a 23-yard touchdown run up the middle, breaking a tackle at the 15-yard line.

After Capistrano Valley quarterback Sam Gaines had a pass intercepted by Dustin Williams on the next series, El Modena drove 23 yards to tie the score. Mitchell took an option 13 yards to the five and scored from there two plays later.

An interception by Chris Aluax, his second of the game, gave El Modena the ball at the Cougar 48. The Vanguards moved to the 15 before their drive stalled. After a five-yard delay of game penalty, Brett Thompson’s 37-yard field goal gave El Modena the lead.

Capistrano Valley took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, after taking possession at the Vanguard 37 after a short punt. Geiss carried the ball on every play on the drive, scoring on a two-yard run with 1:40 left in the quarter. The extra-point attempt was blocked.