Villa Park Hangs On to Beat Corona, 16-7

Villa Park took an early lead and then held off a second-half rally to defeat Corona, 16-7, Friday night at El Modena.

The Spartans (2-2-1) held the Cougars (0-3-2) to 38 total yards in the first half, but Corona cut the Spartans’ lead to 10-7 in the third quarter.

The Spartans struck back on the second play of the fourth quarter with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Matt Jackson to Nate Harris. The Cougars had two more chances late in the game, but a fumble at the Spartan five-yard line and a missed 47-yard field goal kept them from scoring again.

The Spartans started the game with a 65-yard, 11-play drive, capped by a 32-yard Mike Clements field goal.

After two possessions that lasted only three plays and a punt, the Spartans again mounted a sustained drive. A 27-yard punt return by Dallas Dapper set the Spartans up at their 40-yard line. They went on a 13-play drive that ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Harris. Harris caught three passes on the drive for 52 yards and the Spartans led at halftime, 10-0.

Dache Dameron carried the ball 23 times for 81 yards to pace the Spartans’ ground game.