PREP FOOTBALL : Loara Stops Streak by Beating El Modena

Loara had scored only three touchdowns all season against teams with a combined 14-1-1 record, but the two scores it got Thursday night were enough to beat El Modena, 14-10.

The defense had the biggest performance, with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries; it allowed only 75 net yards.

“After being 0-4, the kids were questioning themselves (wondering) if they could win a ballgame,” Loara Coach John deFries said. “This really means something.”

It broke a 12-game winless streak. It also gives Loara (1-4) a little hope going into Empire League play next week. For El Modena (2-3), the game was summed up in one excruciating play.

On first and 10 from his 39, Chris Goodwin passed to Ed Romo, who completed a 61-yard play by gliding through the end zone, arms outstretched. What he didn’t realize before he got whistled for taunting was that the play didn’t count because of an illegal procedure penalty. In short, Romo was penalized for celebrating a touchdown that didn’t exist. El Modena was penalized twice; the potential game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown was suddenly a first and 30 from the 19.

Loara’s two touchdowns came on a 24-yard pass from Jim Kirkland to Eddie Williams and Kerry Peoples’ one-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter. The latter was set up by a nine-yard El Modena punt after a bad snap wound up in the end zone. An unnecessary roughness penalty was tacked on to the return. Peoples’ score completed a 14-yard drive.

Romo gave El Modena the early lead with a 40-yard field goal; he added the point-after following Aaron Santana’s one-yard run made it 10-7 in the third quarter. Santana’s score was set up by Jason Said’s 32-yard interception return to the two.