Canyon Makes Stand, Stymies Villa Park

Canyon erased 13 years of frustration by stopping Villa Park on the one-yard line on the last play of the game to preserve a 10-3 victory Thursday night at El Modena.

Villa Park running back Dache Dameron, who rushed for 97 yards, came up one yard short on fourth and goal from the two with three seconds remaining in the game.

Canyon Coach Bob Hughes was at a loss for words after the game as his team celebrated its 2-0 Century League start.

“I don’t know what to say really, I’m just real proud of these guys,” Hughes said.

Villa Park (2-5, 0-2) scored first after a short punt put the Spartans at the Comanches’ 46-yard line. The drive culminated with a 20-yard field goal by Derek Rogers on the second play of the second quarter. Ryan Wann ran for 33 of the Spartans’ 43 yards to set up the field goal.

However, the Comanches (5-2, 2-0) struck back. Wide receiver Jermaine Montgomery returned the ensuing kick off to the Spartan 30-yard line. Four plays later, on fourth and two, Komron Tarkeshian took the ball up the middle for a 22-yard score and a 7-3 lead.

“It was tough,” Tarkeshian said. “Every inch was fought for as hard as it cold be.”

On Villa Park’s next possession, the Comanches’ Dan Gutierrez recovered a fumble at the Spartan 40-yard line. A quick pass from quarterback Craig Scott to Peter Frouslakis moved Canyon to the Spartan 20-yard line. A few plays later Scott Walker kicked a 23-yard field goal to finish the scoring.