El Modena Runs to Easy Victory Over Garden Grove

El Modena High showcased a strong running game Friday in its season-opening 23-6 victory over Garden Grove at El Modena.

Junior Charlie Williams gained 134 yards and scored one touchdown and Mike Walters added 39 yards and one touchdown for El Modena.

Walters’ six-yard run with 2 minutes 34 seconds left in the second quarter gave El Modena a 7-0 lead.

El Modena made its biggest impact in the third quarter with 13 points.

The Vanguards took the second-half kickoff and handed the ball off to Williams six times on a 10-play drive that ended when senior quarterback Cesar Vasquez, who had thrown two interceptions in the first half, connected with Jason Sherrill on an 18-yard touchdown pass play.

After recovering a fumble at the Garden Grove 15-yard line, El Modena pushed the lead to 20-0 on Williams’ touchdown with 3 minutes left in the third quarter.

El Modena put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a 13-play drive that produced a 39-yard field goal by Jason Chavez. Williams had seven carries for 26 yards on the drive.

Garden Grove finally scored a touchdown when El Modena was forced to punt. The snap went over the the punter’s head and the Argonauts took over on the El Modena five.

Quarterback Ulysses Linares was then able to find wide receiver Matt Revelle in the back of the end zone for the touchdown.

Garden Grove lost two-way lineman Isreal Salazar on the game’s opening kickoff. Salazar, a senior, suffered a concussion when he was blocked on the play, according to Garden Grove Coach Ralph Stevens. Salazar was taken off on a stretcher and was taken to a nearby hospital for observation.