El Modena Takes Advantage of Tustin Turnovers to Win
El Modena football Coach Steve Howard said he was “scared to death” in the second half against visiting Tustin. He had no reason to be.
El Modena’s defense and five Tustin turnovers helped the Vanguards record a 25-7 nonleague victory Thursday night.
El Modena (2-1) scored on its first play and never trailed. Though it held a 12-7 lead at the half and struggled offensively in the third quarter, Tustin was unable to take advantage. El Modena put the game away by scoring 13 points in the final quarter.
“The defense played their hearts out,” Howard said. “I was scared to death Tustin might rally. But the defense rose up and we got some turnovers.”
El Modena took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on an 85-yard reception by Greg Hanson from quarterback Chris Goodwin. The Vanguards made it 12-0 with 10:56 left in the second quarter when running back Jason Said scored on a two-yard run.
An interception by Ricky Cherry late in the second quarter led to Tustin’s only score, a three-yard run by quarterback Kevin Timone with 13 seconds remaining in the first half. But Tustin (0-3), which lost its ninth in a row, couldn’t manage much else.
Aaron Santana’s 12-yard touchdown run and two field goals by Frank Rubalcaba in the fourth quarter sealed it for El Modena.