We hadnt beaten them since 2007.. Nothing cures more ills than success . (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), The San Juan Hills dance team gives a preview of the halftime show before the start of the game against El Modena in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. We worked really hard for this game, said El Modena senior defensive tackle Esteban Choucair. But in Backstroms first season, the Vanguards failed to advance to the Southern Section playoffs. None of the 6,500 people who sat transfixed in Fred Kelly Stadium will ever forget it, either. Sign In School Page; Team Page Schedule Roster Videos/Photos . The Vanguards went on a scouting mission to watch Edison play a talented Canyon team the previous week. Dolphins are eliminated in first playoff appearance since 2013 in Division 5 opener. Hes had such a good thing going with the parents and the players, its tough to see him leave.. 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. In that sense, my first year was tough.. Linebacker Weston Port contributed to two sacks to help lead the Stallions defense. I have a passion for playing the WR position and you will get the very best from me. El Modena HS Varsity Football. And he wouldnt wish the experience on anyone. WR/DB Coach . Ask Bob Lester, Vanguard coach. Over in the Goliath camp, members of the former No. High School El Modena City Orange, CA; Class 2023; Watch Highlights. Subscriptions Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. His brother, Dave, an all-county offensive guard and the senior class president, said, It was comparable to the Raiders playing somebody like the New Orlean Saints.. In the second half, it was the defenses that reigned. In March, Snitzler was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with the student, according to Rackauckas. But if there was any pressure, it was self-made. In the second half, cornerback Eddie Martinez chipped in an interception to help the Vanguards defense. (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. We always had something to prove.. Why did we give up 129 yards? I have coached kids to high school guys to college guys. There was just an incredible amount of pressure (to win), McWhinney said. Dan Albano has been a high school sports writer at The Orange County Register since 1993. I also think theyre going to take away the passion that Bo, Omar, Hayden, Jagger (Wiesen) play with, Henney said, and try and continue that to start a real tradition of having competitive football program at Dana Hills.. Jack Elsner, El Modena principal, said that he wont name a replacement until January. The play set up another El Modena touchdown. The Dolphins battled. Next week, El Modena plays Foothill in a nonleague game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Tustin High. It was Kelly and the Dolphins quick-strike offense that put Dana Hills in control in the first half, 14-10. Hitchens, a running back/linebacker, capped the march with a 12-yard touchdown run with 7:49 left in the period. Support Local Journalism The Vanguard disaster occurred early in the second quarter. @bills_kelly. El Modena's players approached it differently. The Vanguards ran for 280 yards and four . 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). November 5, 2021 12:21AM . It was like we had to battle to get respect from other teams. City News Service contributed to this report. 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. Scouting Report Dana Hills Football Pushes to Overtime at El Modena, Falls in First CIF-SS Playoff Game in 8 Years. El Modena HS Varsity Football. 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. 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 . Dolphins take over on the 31, 17-17, 1:14 to go. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown as he is grabbed by San Juan Hills defensive back Isaiah Bennett, right, in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. How good are the Vanguards? (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. Three weeks later, the Heralds won the 2-AA title. 2022-23 NCAA Guide For College Bound Student-Athlete (PDF), 2020-21 NCAA International Student-Athlete Guide, 2021-22 Equity in Athletics Report (EADA), Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, 2021 Trailblazer Football Tailgate Information. Ive learned from some of your favorite players and taught some of them some things I do well at the WR position. 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. El Segundo 4, Torrance 2. . With all that hard work I was able to play with the Bills and learn from top guys like Stefan diggs and Gabe Davis. Two plays later Smith scored on a 1-yard run around right end for a 14-3 lead. The Vanguards Mayson Hitchens had two catches for 44 yards, one of them a reception of a short pass over the middle that he turned into a 38-yard gain by bowling over three defenders. 1-ranked football team in California, the Edison Chargers, dont care to remember that particular game. 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. 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. 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. 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. Zach is a multiple California Journalism Award winner and has covered sports in Orange County since 2013. 26-year-old Michael James Snitzler, a Santa Ana resident, is a former El Modena High School varsity football coach. He was honored as a Jim Staunton Champion for Character by the CIF-Southern Section in 2017. Dana Hills (8-3) broke through some barriers for the program this season. When he finally resigned in October, it was a big disappointment for the kids, most of them were seniors. It turned out to be one of those storybook seasons, really, Brown said. it was bad karma, said Scott Strosnider, a starter on the 1979 Edison team. @dhhs_athletics pic.twitter.com/dsg4t9Eerl. 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. The Vanguards are ranked No. CoachUp now makes private football coaching affordable and convenient for athletes of all ages and skill levels. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills fans watch fireworks before the start of the game against El Modena in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. 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. Father and son will be on opposite sidelines when the two teams meet next Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. It was a sensitive situation.. The Vanguards took their opening possession 56 yards on seven plays for a score. Adams 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Leftwich with 2:29 remaining in the game completed the scoring. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Our defense played well tonight, said El Modena coach Matt Mitchell. When you talk about legends, as coaches, were all legends in our own minds.. But the coaches told us, Theyre the same age as you. El Modenas game-opening possession ended when the Vanguards failed to convert on fourth-and-2 at the Villa Park 40 when Smith was tackled by Eddie Rodriguez for a 1-yard loss. In that time, Crow had won a Central Conference title, and finished runner-up once as well. There was pain, and it was just kind of flopping around. To climax the series of plays, he threw a 32-yard touchdown pass, and El Modena tied the score, 7-7. Head Freshmen coach at Orange HS 1998. 877-845-6272. ORANGE - El Modena coaches tried the "it's just another game" approach to Thursday's football contest against Villa Park. (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. (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. Varsity assistant at Orange HS 1 year with Dick Hill 1997. Subscribe now. . High School Sports. The Vanguards stuck to the ground and rushed in a five-yard touchdown to take the game, 23-20. Bell did get back in stride in the second half, finishing with two touchdowns and a total of 134 yards rushing. Lester had great rapport with his assistant coaches and players. He dodged out to the 20-yard line, where he was hit by an Edison safety. The rivalry wont be the same without him. 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? Its not that it hasnt been a marvelous experience--it certainly has--but Im getting more selfish with my time. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, center, has the pass roll off of his fingertips in the end zone for an incomplete pass as San Juan Hills defensive back Rylan Schafer, left, and defensive back Dylan Wersching, right, apply pressure in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. To them, it was noteworthy only because it was the second-to-last time they lost a game for three seasons. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), A El Modena cheerleader takes a selfie as she is held up by fellow cheerleaders before the game against Villa Park in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. The thing was, they wanted Bob to continue coaching, but they also realized that (his years of coaching) were numbered. On Wednesday, the district attorney's office filed additional charges against Snitzler related to his alleged sexual relationship with a minor including unlawful sexual intercourse and child annoyance. El Modena High School (Orange, CA) Varsity Football El Modena Vanguards Varsity Boys Football Orange, CA FOLLOW TEAM 22-23 V. Football Home Schedule Roster Stats Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / El Modena High School Football El Modena Football OVERALL 11-1 0.92 Win % LEAGUE 3-0 1st North Hills HOME6-0 AWAY5-1 NEUTRAL0-0 Many county high school coaches can relate to that experience. Kelly finds Black on a screen, Black finds blockers and sprints 68 yards to the end zone. A week ago last Monday, Jamison's wife, Savannah . The charges Snitzler is facing could result in a more than 10-year prison sentence, according to Rackauckas. 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. 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. Im serious. (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. . Both are nonleague games. Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. This will be a hard-fought game, and Edison should emerge victorious by a point. He won Associated Press Sports Editors awards for game-story writing in 2001, feature-story writing in 2017 and breaking news in 2019. It has also been harder and harder to lose. After that, Ledesma came on (during the remainder of the season) and became one of the finest quarterbacks we ever had.. Went to Orange HS. The Chargers destroyed Canyon, 43-14. ; Tomatomania 2023: Roger's Gardens, Corona del Mar, Joyful Flowers: Ikebana Show 2023: Sherman Gardens, Corona del Mar, Art & Frame Warehouse Sale - Village Gallery, Annual California Cool Art Auction, Benefit & Bash 2023: Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, 'Holi By The Sea' Festival Of Colors 2023: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 9th and March 14th at The Boardwalk, Body Found In Santa Ana River Thursday After Heavy Rains: Report, Before & After Photos Show CA's Snowpack, Reservoirs After Storms, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk], Fountain Valley Area Pets Waiting To Be Adopted: Meet Sheeba, Scooby, Shiela & More. No one wins the Sunset League three times in a row. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park cheer during the game against El Modena in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Entering his 20th season as the Vanguards coach, Lester, 55, figured he would delegate most of the workload to his fine group of assistants, oversee the operation, and try to relax and enjoy football for a change. Barrett said the success has made the transition much easier. It has been 30 years in the business and the time has come where I dont need it anymore, said Lester, El Modenas only football coach. Smith snuck behind coverage to pull in a 31-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead. El Modena stuck to its running attack, and in the past that mightve gotten Dana Hills, but the Dolphins met the challenge. Guess scored on a weaving-through-the-middle run of 28 yards to stretch the advantage to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter. Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map, Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Migration Sees Early Northbound, Late Southbound Traffic, Local Singer-Songwriter Ava August Releases Latest Single, City Launches 2nd Whale Tail Scavenger Hunt, Kneeboards and Stampedes: Local surfers shine in a weekend of wild surf contests up and down the Golden State. After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. I played HS football in the toughest league in CA, the trinity league at Servite HS. 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 . Steve Clark is the tight ends coach for BYU, while son Jamison is a member of the Utah Tech football staff. At Whittier Christian, basketball Coach Bob Brown replaced Bill Cuccia last year after Cuccia resigned. 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. I dont like to lose, and it gets to the point where you tend to dwell on the negative. The transition, they say, was surprisingly smooth because they shared many of the same philosophies and strategies as the former coach. The reason is that Charger quarterback Mike Angelovic has the advantage of two of the countys better returning receivers, wide receiver Rick Justice (44 passes for 902 yards last season) and tight end Ken Griggs (14 receptions for 226 yards). Although Edison built a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the El Modena defense held the formidable Bell to just 10 yards rushing on six carries in the first half. Back then the CIF-SS divisions were still geographic and league-based, and the Dolphins played in the tough Pac-5 Division. Villa Park struggled to establish an offensive flow and wounding up using two quarterbacks. It seemed like Kerwin Bell scored four or five touchdowns, Frasco recalled. Twitter. They scored 49 points in a win over Foothill on Saturday, Oct. 8. 2019-current Freshman assistant football coach at El Modena HS. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. 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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. We knew he was a skilled kid, but we really hadnt worked with him. Some coaches, especially those who had been on the staff for a long time before accepting the head coaching job, say replacing a very successful coach was not much of a problem at all. That makes a big difference, I think.. And most agree, replacing a successful coach is not always an easy thing to do. The Spartans start Crestview League games at Yorba Linda on Oct. 14. The only problem I was feeling was that we always expected so much success at El Modena, Backstrom said. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Steve was honored as Champion for Character by the CIF-Southern Section. . In the second quarter, El Modena drove 55 yards on nine plays for another touchdown. His career record at El Modena was 157-58-8. The Vanguards begin North Hills League play Oct. 13 against El Dorado. A strong Vanguard team in 1978 had lost its only game of the season to Edison. Villa Park has a nonleague game next week against Canyon, on Friday, Oct. 7 at El Modena. 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).. After El Modernas 14 play drive, Kelly hits Chambers for 56 yards and Black on this 19 yard TD pass. 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. Menu Join Team. ORANGE The Dana Hills football team fought. I love our kids and the time we had together was really a lot of fun.. Santiago HS (Garden Grove) Dan is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, where he worked at The Daily Titan as a news reporter, sports reporter, managing editor and opinion editor. @dhhs_athletics @tonyhenney pic.twitter.com/EkBPyGIPnA, South OC Sports (@SouthOCsports) November 5, 2021, I thought we fought like a team that belonged, Dana Hills coach Tony Henney said. (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. Smith rushed for 20 and 12 yards on his first two carries, the first two plays from scrimmage of the game. El Dorado dropped to 6-2 overall. Choucair and linebacker Owen Smith, who were both All-CIF selections last season, and linebackers Brodie Hitchens and Kyle Medel and lineman Davian Ceballos were among the many contributors to another fine defensive effort by the Vanguards. (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. The shorthand lingo of the Fred Kelly Stadium scoreboard described it thus: El Modena 28, Edison 27. And a loss for The Ted and Bob Show, which can now only be seen in reruns. That lasted about a minute and a half, Lester said. ORANGE El Modena coaches tried the its just another game approach to Thursdays football contest against Villa Park. If it did, he masked it well with his sense of humor. Doug Rozsa remembers that El Modena had been selected to finish fourth in the Century League in 1979. Reach Another Level with a Private Utah Football Coach. In his first season, Henney got this Dolphins' program to set its sights higher and showed that it belonged . Honestly, I think Im more happy than sad. 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. . Doug Rozsa, an El Modena linebacker, the student body president and one of the Rozsa triplets, remembers fellow students telling him their team would be lucky to score at all against the countrys third-ranked team. SCHEDULE Welcome to El Modena Football For questions regarding the El Modena Football Program and getting signed up, please contact Head Varsity Coach Matt Mitchell at mjmitch@orangeusd.org For questions regarding the El Modena Football Freshman team, please contact Freshman Head Coach Chris Esperanza at esperanzachris@att.net Chambers caught three passes for 115 yards. Snitzler is currently in custody being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Jack made it very easy for me because we had worked together (at Corona del Mar) for 11 years, Orris said. "I didn't think we'd be. Bill was a very popular coach here with the kids and the parents, Brown said. Lester had a kind of empty feeling. The Vanguards back-up quarterback, Rick Ledesma, had never thrown a pass in a varsity game. The Vanguards have 1139 players on their Football all-time roster. If we didnt, I think theyd be calling for my neck. Im a coach that believes in technique and knowledge which allows one to go out and dominate. 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. Steve's first byline appeared in the Register in 1979. I just tried to hide it.. 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. Time kept rolling and the half ended. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. Key to the game--Much will depend on the effectiveness of the El Modena defense, particularly the Vanguards untested secondary. Rick went in and played a heck of a football game, Lester said. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills fans get ready for the game against El Modena in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. The Stallions have again played a strong schedule. Steve Barrett, Ocean Views baseball coach, knows the feeling. Villa Park got points on its first possession. Photo: Zach Cavanagh. Bob is kind of a classic guy, and his resignation is a loss for Orange County football.. 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.