Villa Park’s Offense Flies Past El Modena
Villa Park passed its first and perhaps toughest test in the Century League Friday, cruising past El Modena, 35-13, in front of 6,000 at El Modena High.
The Spartans’ aerial attack led by John Henry Jackson, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 286 yards, and receiver Bryan Arguello, who had six receptions for 131 yards, sparked Villa Park (6-0, 1-0 in league), the ninth-ranked team in the county.
“John Henry and Bryan will be gone next year,” said Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney, whose team rolled up 456 yards of offense. “But we’ll enjoy it while we have them.”
El Modena (4-2, 0-1) concentrated on limiting Villa Park’s ground game, with linebacker Adam Lancisero, who had 10 tackles, helping the Vanguards hold the Spartans to 28 yards rushing in the first half.
But the Vanguards couldn’t tackle the passing game on either side of the ball.
Lancisero also rushed for 212 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries, but quarterback Kevin Brown converted only two of eight third-down conversions with passes. He completed eight of 23 passes for 76 yards.
Still, the Vanguards were in the game for almost three quarters.
El Modena’s defense gave up only a one-yard touchdown run by Ricky Campos and field goals of 23 and 32 yards by Arguello in the first half. Then Lancisero scored on a 20-yard run, breaking several tackles on the play, to pull the Vanguards to within 13-7 with 5 minutes 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
But Villa Park answered with Jackson and Arguello.
Facing third and 11 at the Villa Park 32, Arguello turned an out pattern into a 37-yard gain. He capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception--against double coverage--from Jackson and a two-point conversion pass from Jackson to Joe Alvarado made it 28-7 with 2:13 left in the third.
“[Jackson] and I have played together for five or six years,” Arguello said. “We just connect. We’re on the same page and we look for each other.”
Then Villa Park landed the knockout punch.
El Modena had another incomplete pass on third and 11 and Villa Park got the ball back after a punt. Jackson drove the Spartans 53 yards in nine plays, capped by Jonathan Allmond’s eight-yard run with 8:22 remaining.
When El Modena turned the ball over on downs to end its next possession, Allmond’s brother, Jared, scored on a 71-yard reverse to make it 35-7 with 5:23 remaining.
El Modena scored on its final possession, with Daniel Dixon scoring on a seven-yard run with 1:15 remaining.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
CENTURY
*--*
League Overall School W L T W L T Villa Park 1 0 0 6 0 0 Santa Ana Valley 1 0 0 4 2 0 Foothill 1 0 0 2 4 0 El Modena 0 1 0 4 2 0 Canyon 0 1 0 3 3 0 Orange 0 1 0 0 6 0
*--*
WEEK 6
Thursday’s result
* Santa Ana Valley 42, Orange 12
Friday’s results
* Foothill 35, Canyon 7
* Villa Park 35, El Modena 13
WEEK 7
Thursday, Oct. 19
Orange vs. Villa Park at El Modena HS.
Friday, Oct. 20
Canyon at El Modena
Foothill vs. Santa Ana Valley at Santa Ana Stadium
