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. SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO El Modena and San Juan Hills each carried questions into their clash of teams ranked in the Orange County Top 25. I just tried to hide it.. Lester began his coaching career at La Veta High in Colorado in 1956, where he spent four seasons before moving to Colorados Salido High for two years. Basically, I was the young guy coming in and I dont think they wanted to hurt the future. 15 in this weeks county rankings, have played a challenging schedule. Going forward, this Dolphin team may have changed the path of the Dana Hills football program. In the first quarter, Kellys first touchdown pass to Black was a 68-yard screen pass that put the Dolphins ahead, 7-3, four plays after El Modenas opening field goal. El Modena HS Varsity Football. Key to the game--Much will depend on the effectiveness of the El Modena defense, particularly the Vanguards untested secondary. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), An El Modena cheerleader entertains the crowd with a series of flips before the start of the game against Villa Park in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Armstrong ran a wheel route and scored with 15 seconds left in the period. All League 1st Team DB (2005) Snitzler is currently in custody being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Time kept rolling and the half ended. I want to do some of the things I havent done in 30 years, such as hunt in the fall, take a full summer off, not excrete so much stomach acid in the fall . It was a sobering experience. Three years ago, Paul Orris replaced Jack Errion, who retired after 11 years as Corona del Mars basketball coach. Its a good thing though weve had more Ws than Ls, he said. Also many years as a Head Wrestling coach of boys and girls. 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. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith turns the corner and sprints up field against San Juan Hills in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. This season, with the CIF-SS system now being based on calpreps.coms computer power rankings, Dana Hills opened with a rating that wouldve put them in Division 13 at the end of the year. 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). It was a team yearning to be coached, Henney said. They have outscored their opponents 217-28. 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. El Modena ran the ball 51 times to gain a total of 273 yards, but Dana Hills made them earn every yard on lengthy drives. Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. TOUCHDOWN: Dana Hills strikes back. 25 Feb 2023 01:23:28 Ive learned from some of your favorite players and taught some of them some things I do well at the WR position. El Modena's players approached it differently. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ZachCav and follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SouthOCSports. Bell did get back in stride in the second half, finishing with two touchdowns and a total of 134 yards rushing. I would like to get away from football film forever. @bokellyy @omarjayeblack1, Dana Hills leads El Modena, 7-3, 6:37 1Q, CIF-SS D5. Varsity Football (2021 - 2022) Team Record (8 - 5, 0 - 3) Roster (91) . And he still yells at me if I do something wrong, and still pats me on the back when I do something right.. La Veta High School (Colo.): 24-12-2 (1956-59), Salido High School (Colo.): 15-6 (1960-61), Duarte High School (Calif.): 17-10 (1963-66). (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills quarterback Michael Butter Tollefson looks to fire a pass against El Modena in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. 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. If it did, he masked it well with his sense of humor. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith, left, runs along the sideline for more yardage as he is chased by San Juan Hills defensive back Isaiah Bennett on a pass play in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. During his first year as the OC, the Trailblazers averaged 421 yards of total offense, including nearly 300 ypg in the air, and 31.4 ppg. . 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. A native of East Lyme, Conn., and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, he began writing for The Times in 1981. (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. Orange Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students in all academic programs and school activities. ORANGE El Modena coaches tried the its just another game approach to Thursdays football contest against Villa Park. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! He then spent a year as a graduate assistant at Colorados Adams State College before moving to Duarte High to become head coach in 1963. There was pain, and it was just kind of flopping around. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Blake Califf kicked a 39-yard field goal to put the Spartans on top 3-0 midway through the first quarter. 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 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. Dana Hills led 14-10. It was like we had to battle to get respect from other teams. But Backstrom said he never heard any grumbling from the players, their parents or the administration. Yet, some witnesses still claim that it was the most exciting game they had ever seen. Villa Park running back Ethan Fraser is stopped cold by El Modenas Brodie Hitchens, left, Mayson Hitchens, top center, and Esteban Choucair, right, in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. (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. With the final seconds ticking down in the half, El Modena connected a swing pass that looked destined for the end zone, but Dendiu stonewalled the Vanguard receiver at the 1-yard line. Offensive tackle Bob Korb is an engineer, and fullback Jose Gill is a criminal investigator. In his first season, Henney got this Dolphins program to set its sights higher and showed that it belonged with teams of El Modenas caliber. El Modena senior running back Owen . Photo: Zach Cavanagh. Nobody imagined the talented quarterback would have his arm broken from a second-quarter tackle and be lost for the rest of the season. But in Backstroms first season, the Vanguards failed to advance to the Southern Section playoffs. "I didn't think we'd be. Im serious. As the fog descended upon Fred Kelly Stadium, Dana Hills went blow-for-blow against a physical and tested El Modena squad. 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. The pair worked together for three years before Mullen left to coach at Villa Park. None of the 6,500 people who sat transfixed in Fred Kelly Stadium will ever forget it, either. In his first season, Henney got this Dolphins' program to set its sights higher and showed that it belonged . Their opponents took a combined record of 20-2 into Friday. 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. Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe Assistant Coach Kulda, Greg Assistant Coach Tafua, Steve . Father and son will be on opposite sidelines when the two teams meet next Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park quarterback Vince Lagatta, left, rolls out of the pocket as he is chased and taken down by El Modena defensive tackle Esteban Choucair, (55) in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. ORANGE The Dana Hills football team fought. Former El Modena High School coach Michael James Snitzler, 26, was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor unlawful sexual intercourse and child annoyance following investigating by Orange police . Located in an unincorporated area between Tustin and Orange,. Guess scored on a weaving-through-the-middle run of 28 yards to stretch the advantage to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter. The Vanguards begin North Hills League play Oct. 13 against El Dorado. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Villa Park quarterback Vince Lagatta, left, rolls out of the pocket as he is chased and taken down by El Modena defensive . 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. 435-652-7628. Coach is willing to travel up to 50 miles, Qualified Private Coach The drama at the school, located at 3900 block of E. Spring St., unfolded at 11 a.m. on April 23 when the Snitzler's brother -- who was inside the school with him -- called Orange police, Orange Sgt. Smith punctuated the possession with a 6-yard TD run and ran in the 2-point conversion after a penalty by San Juan Hills. Lester, who had been the coach since the school opened in 1966, won three. Steve Clark is the tight ends coach for BYU, while son Jamison is a member of the Utah Tech football staff. Speaking of bad luck, the El Modena Vanguards--or the Ducks as their colorful coach prefers--actually had to absorb the majority of it. I mean, he won the Sunset League in 1985, 86 and 87. Advertise with us. In nine years, Cuccias teams won seven Olympic League championships, compiled a 180-49 overall record and reached the Southern Section final three times. Lester said 1979 was supposed to be a down year, and in fact the 79 team had already lost a game to Loara before meeting Edison. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Oct 22 Elmo warming up for Brea-Olinda! Next week, El Modena plays Foothill in a nonleague game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Tustin High. Guess moved around and outside of the pocket before throwing to the open Astor at the back of the end zone for a 7-3 lead with 5:39 to go in the second quarter. Dana Hills football. While the program needs to increase its numbers and Henney wants to see improvement in the weight room, Henney also hopes those leading Dolphins of the future take their cues from these Class of 2022 seniors. Dana Hills (8-3) broke through some barriers for the program this season. View career profiles, stats, photos and video highlights. Smith rushed for 20 and 12 yards on his first two carries, the first two plays from scrimmage of the game. @ElModenaHS @emfb_mitchell @cespybaseball . (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills fans cheer as their team takes the field before the start of the game against El Modena in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. The stress never seemed to affect Lester, though. College basketball: So whats the deal with Oregons new floor? 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. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I didnt think wed be dominating like this, but we knew this was a special group of guys.. Santiago HS (Garden Grove) I was in way over my head. Even when you have a good win, the whole thinking is, What went wrong in the win? McWhinney, who two weeks ago was hired to replace Jerry Howell as football coach at Foothill High School, accepted his first head coaching job 20 years ago at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera. Hes great! Senior Hayden Dendiu made his second of two huge defensive stops to break up an El Modena pass on fourth down in the final minute of regulation. Mark that as the first major accomplishment in the Henney's tenure as head coach. The Vanguards stuck to the ground and rushed in a five-yard touchdown to take the game, 23-20. Zach Cavanagh This coach is unavailable to take clients at this time. I have coached kids to high school guys to college guys. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith, center, pushes past the Villa Park defense for a big gain in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. His career record at El Modena was 157-58-8. Gardening Stuff & Plant cuttings Exchange Feb 11th Irvine Great Park. Personalized, one-on-one instruction is the secret to improved skills and increased confidence. When you talk about legends, as coaches, were all legends in our own minds.. Already a member? Los Angeles, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, With Marcus Morris sidelined, Clippers look to stabilize lineup and rotations, With their playoff lives at stake, Darvin Ham challenges Lakers effort and urgency, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row. We were so damn scared of them. We hadnt beaten them since 2007.. Ledesma completed 6 of 11 passes for 139 yards in the second half against the Chargers. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Surging Crespi receives another strong performance from sophomore Diego Velazquez, High school baseball and softball: Fridays scores, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus, High school baseball and softball: Thursdays scores, Taft football coach Jeff Kearin resigns in support of assistant principal, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? Grew up in Orange. Lester, who had been the coach since the school opened in 1966, won three Southern Section titles in that time and lost two others in overtime. Steve Clark, right, and his son Jamison pose prior to a BYU football game. It was a sensitive situation.. Dolphins are eliminated in first playoff appearance since 2013 in Division 5 opener. Under those circumstances, I accepted. Two plays later Smith scored on a 1-yard run around right end for a 14-3 lead. 2003 to 2010 Head Varsity football coach at Santiago of Garden Grove. Varsity Football (2019 - 2020) Team Record (5 - 6, 1 - 2) Roster (57) . Other coaches surely envy his staff, which includes 20-year assistants Glenn Lukenbill and Bob Radford, 18-year assistant Dale Arambel, 12-year assistants Pete Parker and Bill Backstrom, and 5-year assistant Al Clinton. San Juan Hills entered 0-5 for the second consecutive season. El Modena went on an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Smith to give the Vanguards a 15-14 lead entering the half. In that sense, my first year was tough.. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park cheer during the game against El Modena in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Perhaps, running back Jim Torok paid him the ultimate compliment in 1981, when he said: Hes the best. Brown said the season hit a low point when Orange Lutheran--a longtime rival--defeated Whittier Christian for the second time. Over in the Goliath camp, members of the former No. --In 1981, when it was announced that El Modena would be playing Edison, which was accused of recruiting players from outside the district: Its in our contract that after Edison gets 40 points, theyve got to play all kids from Huntington Beach., --On the prospect of facing long-time friend Ted Mullen, coach at rival Foothill High, in the 1983 Southern Conference final: Id just as soon see someone else over there besides Teds ugly face., --On Foothills Joe Walshe, who had a mustache and weighed 270 pounds when he starred at defensive end for the Knights in 1983: Hes a helluva football player, which he ought to be considering hes 35.. Support Local Journalism Varsity Football Chris Dunham Oct 7 Coach Mitchell giving the refs a pregame pep talk!! Shoutout to Coach Mitchell for presenting and sharing his insights at the 2023 Los Angeles Football Coaching Clinic! (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park tight end Jeremiah Leftwich, left, reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown over El Modenas Ryan Holzgang in non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. City News Service contributed to this report. 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. Steve does concert reviews for the Register, too, when time permits. 1, Santa Margarita girls, Portola boys race to titles at Capistrano Valley swimming relays, Disneyland quietly removes controversial lyric from new parade soundtrack, Fannie Mae halts financing for 6,102 condos in Laguna Woods, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, 2 arrested in Anaheim on suspicion of possessing $463,000 in stolen merchandise, Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack, Lake Forest woman filed restraining order against daughter 8 years before being killed in their home, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Taco Mesita opens flagship location in Old Town Tustin, OC Restaurant Week kicks off Sunday, March 5, Lake Forest man convicted of killing stepmom with pickaxe, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. High School El Modena City Orange, CA; Class 2023; Watch Highlights. The Vanguards gave up a double-digit number of points for the first time this season. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong signals a touchdown along with the referee after scoring on a pass play against San Juan Hills in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. Today, some of the Vanguards are college students, such as the Rozsa triplets, who attend UCLA. Passed Coach Course. No one wins the Sunset League three times in a row. Last week, El Modena beat La Habra 43-6. 866-495-5172. That wealth of knowledge, thats what I miss the most, though he still comes over and talks to us sometimes. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park quarterback Vince Lagatta, left, gets rid of the ball as El Modena defensive tackle Shane Whitehill, center, and outside linebacker Kyle Medel close in during the first quarter of a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. it was bad karma, said Scott Strosnider, a starter on the 1979 Edison team. Santa Ana College (2007) ASA College Brooklyn, NY (2017) Both are nonleague games. But while Lester admits that his staff does most of the coaching, many final decisions rest on his shoulders. Menu Join Team. Dana Hills remained in front thanks to an enormous defensive play by Dendiu. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Oct 7 Varsity Football Linda Slajer Oct 2 Varsity Football Linda Slajer Oct 2 Head Freshmen coach at Orange HS 1998. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, fights off Villa Park wide receiver Isaiah Moraldo in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Played football at S.A. College. I dont think it wasnt until the fourth of fifth game of the season that I could actually smile.. Consensus--With the addition of kicker Tim Bontrager this season, the Chargers should not suffer many one-point losses, the margin in all their 1984 defeats. CLICK HERE FOR THE EL MODENA FOOTBALL BLAST PAGE. High School Sports. After El Modena, Edison won 34 of its next 35 games, setting the record for the second-longest winning streak in Southern Section history at 32. WR/DB Coach The only problem I was feeling was that we always expected so much success at El Modena, Backstrom said. Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach. The awe-inspiring Edison team was led by Frank Seurer, later a professional quarterback for the Los Angeles Express and the son of the former Denver Bronco of the same name. There was just an incredible amount of pressure (to win), McWhinney said. At least with having the others there, it wasnt like bringing in an entirely new program. 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.
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