The key was holding Kerwin Bell, Frasco said. El Modena improved its record to 6-0 while Villa Park dropped to 2-4. Under those circumstances, I accepted. by Dana Point Times. I dont like to lose, and it gets to the point where you tend to dwell on the negative. There was pain, and it was just kind of flopping around. His next scheduled court appearance is May 12 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. All League 1st Team WR (2006) The thing was, they wanted Bob to continue coaching, but they also realized that (his years of coaching) were numbered. I wasnt sure, but I had a pretty good idea it was busted, he said. How good are the Vanguards? I couldnt believe what happened.. puts a smile on my face. CoachUp now makes private football coaching affordable and convenient for athletes of all ages and skill levels. Dana Hills (8-3) broke through some barriers for the program this season. The pressure was so enormous . It was Kelly and the Dolphins quick-strike offense that put Dana Hills in control in the first half, 14-10. Smith, a senior who also is El Modenas leading rusher, on Thursday rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The Vanguards have 1139 players on their Football all-time roster. He always made me feel like I was part of the decision making, and kind of groomed me for the job, I think. Its not the game that Lester is leaving. He also was his usual disruptive self on defense at linebacker. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), The Villa Park drum major salutes during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of the game against El Modena in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess changes direction to get away from San Juan Hills defenders in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. . El Modenas defense and special teams delivered its offense excellent field possession early in the fourth quarter and Hitchens capped a 21-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run to make it 29-0. The Vanguards won their first Southern Conference championship in 1978 when they defeated Pacifica, 20-6, and they won back-to-back titles in 1983 (10-7 over Foothill) and 1984 (26-0 over Esperanza). El Modena Captains getting ready for the coin toss against Yorba Linda! None of the 6,500 people who sat transfixed in Fred Kelly Stadium will ever forget it, either. Bell did get back in stride in the second half, finishing with two touchdowns and a total of 134 yards rushing. . Hell admit that, by all rights, his team should not have had a remote hope of winning the game. Why did we give up 129 yards? Father and son will be on opposite sidelines when the two teams meet next Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Armstrong ran a wheel route and scored with 15 seconds left in the period. When you talk about legends, as coaches, were all legends in our own minds.. . Team talk with a humble, two-way baller @HitchensMayson of 5-0 @elmodenafb @ElmoHSAthletics @OrangeUnifiedCA @OSmith_5 @elishah_jackett @ocvarsity @SteveFryer pic.twitter.com/XgrWOXB4Ar, Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 24, 2022. Offensive tackle Bob Korb is an engineer, and fullback Jose Gill is a criminal investigator. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The pair worked together for three years before Mullen left to coach at Villa Park. 90 OT . He was honored as a Jim Staunton Champion for Character by the CIF-Southern Section in 2017. Advertise with us. Theyve been playing hard and together as a group. The Dolphins were assessed nine penalties for 125 total yards. El Modena ended that streak by defeating the Spartans 28-13 on Thursday night at El Modena High. @bokellyy @omarjayeblack1, Dana Hills leads El Modena, 7-3, 6:37 1Q, CIF-SS D5. 26-year-old Michael James Snitzler, a Santa Ana resident, is a former El Modena High School varsity football coach. 14 El Modena answered its question emphatically Friday night with a well-rounded 29-6 victory against No. Grew up in Orange. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Nov 3 Shane Whitehill continues to rack up sacks with another one to force Pasadena to Punt! Its not easy to sever something thats been important to you for so long, but I know that on the weekends, when everyone else is out playing, were here 10 hours Saturday and 10 hours Sunday, watching film and eating Jack-in-The-Box hotdogs, Lester said. When I went to El Modena, we were always considered the underdogs, even though we had won the CIF (Southern Conference title in 1978), Frasco said. Before the game, Lester had grimly predicted, We dont win if Frasco doesnt have a big game. He was referring to quarterback Bob Frasco, the Ducks main asset. Hes been like a second father to me., Said Lukenbill, an assistant: This is the end of an era and a lot of good times. Mullen eventually made it to Foothill, where the Knight-Vanguard rivalry in the Century League and in the playoffs evolved as one of the countys best. High School El Modena City Orange, CA; Class 2023; Watch Highlights. In nine years, Cuccias teams won seven Olympic League championships, compiled a 180-49 overall record and reached the Southern Section final three times. David Melendez #64 OG Dylan Leslie Coaches View All Michael Myers Offensive Line Sean Fryer Coach Videos Elmo goes into Victory formation and will win the first round of the Playoffs 15-14 over Pasadena! Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Guess scored on a weaving-through-the-middle run of 28 yards to stretch the advantage to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter. Nowadays, when players from the 1979 El Modena High School football team get together to recall a little of their glory days, that is the night that springs to mind. It really opened our eyes. There was just an incredible amount of pressure (to win), McWhinney said. We keep preaching get to the ball and play as a team and thats what we did tonight.. @dhhs_athletics pic.twitter.com/tIf1Y24Bwn, When you play your heart out and you have hopes for a ring, youre going to feel down and everything, Kelly said. Jen Amat told City News Service. Sign In School Page; Team Page Schedule Roster Videos/Photos . In his 14 years at El Rancho, Johnson had led the school to five Southern Section championship games, winning three. His career record at El Modena was 157-58-8. He also had two receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. While the ride through the 2021 season was fun, getting off the train this early hurt for a stellar senior class that led the Dolphins to this spot. Subscriptions (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess, center, sprints through a hole in the Villa Park defense in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. I have a passion for playing the WR position and you will get the very best from me. So far under Barrett the Seahawks are 12-4 overall and lead the Sunset League with a 4-1 record. Located in an unincorporated area between Tustin and Orange,. The Vanguards finished with 209 yards rushing mostly behind left tackle Grant Walker, left guard Roman Lira, center Anthony Lopez, right guard Michael Anaya and Washington-committed right tackle Elishah Jackett. El Modena sophomore quarterback Xzavior Guess completed 12 of 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Black caught three passes for 84 yards. City News Service contributed to this report. We were so damn scared of them. New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Bell carried the Chargers 53 yards on seven carries, and Edison was in front, 27-22, three minutes later when Seurer ran the ball in from the one. The season, which ended with last weeks 14-13 loss to Santa Ana in the Southern Conference semifinals, had every ounce of stress that his previous 19 at El Modena had. El Modena High School Orange, CA Coach Bios Michael Myers Offensive Line Sean Fryer Coach (714) 454-3331 stfryer@gmail.com El Modena Head Girls Lacrosse Richard Garcia Coach 1 (714) 875-9121 ragarcia@orangeusd.org El Modena Freshman coach 10th season Samuel Sepulveda Coach (714) 724-3373 sam.sepulveda11@gmail.com Aaron Shahrestani Coach Dolphins are eliminated in first playoff appearance since 2013 in Division 5 opener. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess (9) finds his way through the San Juan Hills defense in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. On the Dolphins ensuing possession, Kelly extended and found senior Owen Chambers deep on a 56-yard pass, and on the next play, Kelly fired it up the middle to Black on a 19-yard touchdown pass. 8 games started at WR. Key to the game--Much will depend on the effectiveness of the El Modena defense, particularly the Vanguards untested secondary. The Vanguards ran for 280 yards and four . We just shot ourselves in the foot a little too often, Henney said, didnt have enough time to get our playmakers the ball in certain occasions. "We worked. Steve Barrett, Ocean Views baseball coach, knows the feeling. Chief among them was senior quarterback Bo Kelly, who completed 18 of 32 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. He always has been the type to joke around at practice, and hes always been a hit with the media, often providing reporters with funny one-liners. He put in just as many hours on the weekends, just as much work, and just as much worry. Dan's passion for water sports has earned him the nickname, Aqua Dan, in the newsroom and taken him to multiple U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and many USA water polo events as a reporter. Basically, I was the young guy coming in and I dont think they wanted to hurt the future. Zach Cavanagh is the sports editor for Picket Fence Media. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith, center, muscles his way into the end zone to score against San Juan Hills in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. Ledesma rallied the Vanguards with less than two minutes to go, and he won the unwinnable game on a nine-yard pass to wide receiver Scott Buehler with 50 seconds left. Passed Coach Course. I hated going to play at El Modena; I just never liked the place . Their opponents took a combined record of 20-2 into Friday. It was a sensitive situation.. It was a sobering experience. Lesters career coaching record is 213-86-10, for a winning percentage of .706. Two days following the April 23 standoff, Snitzler was charged with possessing a firearm in a school zone, discharging or attempting to discharge a firearm in a gun-free school zone -- all of which are felonies -- and possession of ammunition on school property, a misdemeanor, according to Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Coach Biagini, Matthew Coach Garcia, Richard Coach Contact 600 W Santa Ana Blvd Ste 705 Santa Ana, CA 92701 (929) 322-4007 [email protected] . Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. Speaking of bad luck, the El Modena Vanguards--or the Ducks as their colorful coach prefers--actually had to absorb the majority of it. Mike DiGiovanna has been covering Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Times since 1995 and spent 19 years as the Angels beat writer and two seasons on the Dodgers. That wealth of knowledge, thats what I miss the most, though he still comes over and talks to us sometimes. But, after an inspirational post-game talk, which Cuccia attended, Brown said the players were remotivated to win a Southern Section championship--something no Whittier Christian team had done. The Spartans start Crestview League games at Yorba Linda on Oct. 14. Menu Join Team. In the second half, cornerback Eddie Martinez chipped in an interception to help the Vanguards defense. 2019-current Freshman assistant football coach at El Modena HS. Linebacker Weston Port contributed to two sacks to help lead the Stallions defense. 15 in this weeks county rankings, have played a challenging schedule. El Modena stuck to its running attack, and in the past that mightve gotten Dana Hills, but the Dolphins met the challenge. ORANGE El Modena coaches tried the its just another game approach to Thursdays football contest against Villa Park. No one wins the Sunset League three times in a row. Why did two drives stall? Im tired of that.. The stress never seemed to affect Lester, though. Speaking of bad luck, the El Modena Vanguards--or the Ducks as their colorful coach prefers--actually had to absorb the majority of it. Its tough love (to get ready for league and CIF).. And he wouldnt wish the experience on anyone. View career profiles, stats, photos and video highlights. That lasted about a minute and a half, Lester said. El Modena (11-0) advances to next week's second round against Friday's Bishop Diego-Vista Murrieta winner, while Pasadena, which started the season with a 15-14 loss to La Serna, ends the way. A week ago last Monday, Jamison's wife, Savannah . Kelly finds Black on a screen, Black finds blockers and sprints 68 yards to the end zone. Owen Smith rushed for 161 yards and a score, and Mayson Hitchens rushed for two scores and added three sacks as the Vanguards (5-0) defeated their second consecutive Top-25 opponent. The rivalry wont be the same without him. Frasco had never broken a bone in his life, but as soon as he got to his feet, he feared he had experienced the first. They have outscored their opponents 217-28. Kelly Bills is in his second season as Dixie State's offensive coordinator. Sign in here. San Juan Hills entered 0-5 for the second consecutive season. Its my last high school football game. I dont think it wasnt until the fourth of fifth game of the season that I could actually smile.. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park wide receiver Josh Wilcox is hit by El Modenas Brodie Hitchens forcing a fumble that Wilcox is able to recover in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Foothill and El Modena have been going at it for about 35 years now, and the series is even, 17 wins apiece with three ties. The Dolphins got to their first CIF-SS playoff game in eight years by posting their best regular-season record since 2009 the last year Dana Hills won a playoff game. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. El Modena had to string together a 13-play drive to get back in front, 17-14, and the Dolphins responded on the next drive to tie the score, 17-17, on a 34-yard field goal by senior Kian Afrookhteh. He dodged out to the 20-yard line, where he was hit by an Edison safety. Email. I didnt think wed be dominating like this, but we knew this was a special group of guys.. Lester, who said he will remain at the school for at least three more years as a physical education teacher, was hired the same year that Mullen was named athletic director at El Modena. @dhhs_athletics pic.twitter.com/dsg4t9Eerl. In that sense, my first year was tough.. 866-495-5172. The Vanguards went on a scouting mission to watch Edison play a talented Canyon team the previous week. All of the ribbing that went on between the coaches before their games became known as The Ted and Bob Show., The aura surrounding our game and the fun of the challenge will be a little lost for us, Mullen said. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Oct 22 Elmo warming up for Brea-Olinda! TOUCHDOWN: Dana Hills responds lightning fast. The Stallions have again played a strong schedule. Varsity Football (2021 - 2022) Team Record (8 - 5, 0 - 3) Roster (91) . Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach. He was in the inaugural class inducted into the Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Hall of Fame. Steve also is in the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, and was the first journalist to receive the Contribution to Education award from the Orange County Department of Education. Thirteen members of that Edison team received football scholarships. Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Varsity Football (2019 - 2020) Team Record (5 - 6, 1 - 2) Roster (57) . I was in way over my head. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park cheerleaders wait for the game against El Modena to begin in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. By contrast, only one El Modena player went on to play football at a four-year school. Dana Hills needed a stop to win its first playoff game since 2009, but El Modena needed just four plays to earn the win. Not that it was any ill will toward me--I dont think it was. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, celebrates his touchdown against San Juan Hills with wide receiver Sam Astor (11) in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. In his eight years coaching at Ocean View, Gibbons led the Seahawks to three Sunset League championships since 1985, and guided the team at least as far as the Southern Section quarterfinals every year since 1983. It was just a high school football game played six seasons ago. I mean, he won the Sunset League in 1985, 86 and 87. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ZachCav and follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SouthOCSports. . Kelly Bills is in his second season as Dixie State's offensive coordinator. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Personalized, one-on-one instruction is the secret to improved skills and increased confidence. Before the 1985 season began, Bob Lester, El Modena High School football coach, promised himself that this would be a kick-back kind of year--that he wasnt going to get too excited on Friday nights, and that he wasnt going to lose any sleep worrying about what play to call on third and short. A native of East Lyme, Conn., and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, he began writing for The Times in 1981. They scored 49 points in a win over Foothill on Saturday, Oct. 8. Coming into this program when we did, in four years, to say that we flipped around a program, I cant really put words to that.. Santiago HS (Garden Grove) Collecting Controversy : The curios and figurines of a racist past are hot properties. Califf kicked another field goal, this one from 36 yards, to make it 14-6. El Modena senior running back Owen . (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills quarterback Michael Butter Tollefson, left, scrambles as he is chased out of the pocket by an El Modena defender in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. Doug Rozsa remembers that El Modena had been selected to finish fourth in the Century League in 1979. McWhinney, then only 25, took over for his former high school coach, Ernie Johnson. Next week, El Modena takes on Villa Park while San Juan Hills plays at Tesoro. If you are fast, sweet but technique and knowledge will help you win all the time.