PREP FOOTBALL / CENTURY LEAGUE : Villa Park Break Breaks El Modena

The break was so lucky, even one of the officials couldn’t believe it.

Villa Park dominated in the first half against El Modena only to fall improbably behind after halftime in a Century League game Thursday at El Modena High. But El Modena botched a punt attempt late in the game and Villa Park recovered deep in El Modena territory and scored with 40 seconds remaining to win, 33-30.

After the play, a game official turned to spectators on the sideline and wondered aloud if El Modena Coach Steve Howard wanted to take back his decision to punt.

Leading, 30-27, with about a minute to play, El Modena was stymied at its 37-yard line and Howard sent in the punting team on fourth down and eight. But the snap sailed past Jason Sherrill and as he scrambled to pick up the ball, Villa Park players tackled him at the nine-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Sam Stremick connected with Chuck Reid for the winning touchdown for Villa Park (5-1, 1-0 in league). Coach Pat Mahoney said the chance was a gift.

“I just crossed my fingers, but I didn’t expect it,” Mahoney said. “I’ve always said I’d rather be good than lucky and tonight we were good the first half and lucky the second.”

Trailing, 20-8, to start the third quarter, El Modena’s Bobby Calderon intercepted a pass from Stremick and returned it 11 yards to the Villa Park 31. Aaron Santana then gained 30 yards in four carries before Dan Kingman scored on a one-yard run.

The Vanguards (4-2, 0-1) scored again on their next possession on a three-yard run by Santana. Kingman ran for the two-point conversion and El Modena took the lead, 23-20, to end the quarter.

Kingman scored again for El Modena on a one-yard run with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter but Stremick answered on a two-yard run to make it 30-27.

Stremick completed nine of 21 passes for 76 yards with one interception and also rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns in seven carries.