Villa Park’s Late Scores Save Tie With El Modena
Villa Park scored two touchdowns in the last four minutes to escape with a 28-28 tie with El Modena in a Century League game Friday night at El Modena.
El Modena scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives in the second half to take a 28-14 lead. The Spartans (2-5-1, 2-0-1 in league) answered with four-yard touchdowns from Dache Dameron and Nick Busciglio on their next two drives. Dameron finished with 89 yards in 16 carries and Busciglio ran for 60 yards in 10 carries.
“Both teams played well enough to win,” Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney said, “but when our backs were down, we responded.”
Ian Souza scored on two one-yard runs for El Modena (4-3-1, 1-1-1). The Vanguards finished with 296 yards rushing, including 98 yards in 19 carries by Souza.
However, the ground game of El Modena could not make up for the Vanguards’ penalties. They finished with 12 for 120 yards.
“We fell into a lapse. We need to eliminate those kinds of errors,” said El Modena Coach Jason Hitchens.
Villa Park quarterback John Henry Jackson finished with 87 yards on eight-of-15 passing, but completed five of seven passes after the half. Jackson’s efficiency kept two Spartan drives alive with two third-down conversions.
Kevin Dykes also had two touchdowns for the Vanguards, a five-yard run in the second quarter and a 34-yard run in the fourth. Dykes finished with 72 yards in eight carries. Tyrone Brinson set up Dykes’ second score with a 39-yard run. Brinson finished with 79 yards in 17 carries.
The tie gives Villa Park sole possession of first place in the Century League, with El Modena one game back.