Already have an account? We worked really hard for this game, said El Modena senior defensive tackle Esteban Choucair. 2019-current Freshman assistant football coach at El Modena HS. 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. 1-ranked football team in California, the Edison Chargers, dont care to remember that particular game. Casa de Tortuga Is Just Simply Crawling With Tortoises: 450 of Them. Mark that as the first major accomplishment in the Henney's tenure as head coach. He specializes in football and all the aquatics but covers many different sports. After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. El Modena sophomore quarterback Xzavior Guess completed 12 of 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Read customer reviews and train with Neil P. 100% money back guarantee. The only problem I was feeling was that we always expected so much success at El Modena, Backstrom said. OCDA alleges that he initiated the 10-hour standoff with police while armed in one of the school's classrooms in April, when he was being investigated for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17- year-old student. There also was tailback Kerwin Bell, perhaps the best ever to grace Orange Countys playing fields. Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network. TOUCHDOWN: Dana Hills responds lightning fast. For $2 or less, they bought a ticket to witness David defeat Goliath. Three weeks later, the Heralds won the 2-AA title. Every time he talks, he makes me feel so good . Villa Park struggled to establish an offensive flow and wounding up using two quarterbacks. Rick went in and played a heck of a football game, Lester said. 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. I would like to get away from football film forever. Smith help set up the score with a 43-yard run to the San Juan Hills 30. Smith punctuated the possession with a 6-yard TD run and ran in the 2-point conversion after a penalty by San Juan Hills. I was pretty sure that all of the basketball parents wanted Bill to come back. El Modenas players approached it differently. . CIF-SS D5. The shorthand lingo of the Fred Kelly Stadium scoreboard described it thus: El Modena 28, Edison 27. I have a passion for playing the WR position and you will get the very best from me. To them, it was noteworthy only because it was the second-to-last time they lost a game for three seasons. 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. Villa Park got points on its first possession. The Vanguards begin North Hills League play Oct. 13 against El Dorado. McWhinney, then only 25, took over for his former high school coach, Ernie Johnson. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 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. It was like we had to battle to get respect from other teams. This will be a hard-fought game, and Edison should emerge victorious by a point. After that, Ledesma came on (during the remainder of the season) and became one of the finest quarterbacks we ever had.. The Vanguard disaster occurred early in the second quarter. To climax the series of plays, he threw a 32-yard touchdown pass, and El Modena tied the score, 7-7. Santiago HS (Garden Grove) He put in just as many hours on the weekends, just as much work, and just as much worry. Im a coach that believes in technique and knowledge which allows one to go out and dominate. 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 wasn't going to get too excited on. El Modena Captains getting ready for the coin toss against Yorba Linda! 13 in the Orange County Top 25. Not that it was any ill will toward me--I dont think it was. It was a team yearning to be coached, Henney said. @bills_kelly. Nobody imagined the talented quarterback would have his arm broken from a second-quarter tackle and be lost for the rest of the season. Snitzler surrendered to police about 8:45 p.m., Amat said. . Today, some of the Vanguards are college students, such as the Rozsa triplets, who attend UCLA. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. His next scheduled court appearance is May 12 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Speaking of bad luck, the El Modena Vanguards--or the Ducks as their colorful coach prefers--actually had to absorb the majority of it. 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. Reach Another Level with a Private Utah Football Coach. El Modena HS Football Program. Orange Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students in all academic programs and school activities. 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! El Segundo 4, Torrance 2. . @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. ORANGE The Dana Hills football team fought. That makes a big difference, I think.. Three years ago, Paul Orris replaced Jack Errion, who retired after 11 years as Corona del Mars basketball coach. In 2015, Dan received the Bud Dwyer Jr. media award from the Southern California High School Football Coaches Association. When you had a quality quarterback like Frasco, you probably ignored some of the back-ups.. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. El Modena coach Matt Mitchell considered San Juan Hills (0-6) his team's "first challenge" so far but his team easily passed. . Bob is kind of a classic guy, and his resignation is a loss for Orange County football.. I love our kids and the time we had together was really a lot of fun.. Next week, El Modena takes on Villa Park while San Juan Hills plays at Tesoro. 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Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe Assistant Coach Kulda, Greg Assistant Coach Tafua, Steve . 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. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess runs into the end zone to score a touchdown against Villa Park in the fourth quarter in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. 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. Offensive tackle Bob Korb is an engineer, and fullback Jose Gill is a criminal investigator. Hes had such a good thing going with the parents and the players, its tough to see him leave.. The Vanguards went to their ground game to toil through a 14-play, 91-yard, seven-minute drive to retake the lead, 10-7, in the second quarter, but not for long. That was all either team would manage in the second half. Why did we give up 129 yards? 26-year-old Michael James Snitzler, a Santa Ana resident, is a former El Modena High School varsity football coach. (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 stuck to its running attack, and in the past that mightve gotten Dana Hills, but the Dolphins met the challenge. . 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 . I hate to see it go, but you know it has to happen. 90 OT . The thing was, they wanted Bob to continue coaching, but they also realized that (his years of coaching) were numbered. CIF-SS Division 5 first round. Many county coaches side with Backstrom in that replacing a successful coach isnt too difficult--especially when the former coach helps when he can. (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. By contrast, only one El Modena player went on to play football at a four-year school. He also was his usual disruptive self on defense at linebacker. 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(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. Chambers caught three passes for 115 yards. I remember it as if it were yesterday. The Dolphins gave it all they had and more, but as Dana Hills first CIF-SS playoff game since 2013 dragged on into overtime, it was the Vanguards that emerged from the mist victorious. --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.. Ledesma completed 6 of 11 passes for 139 yards in the second half against the Chargers. it was bad karma, said Scott Strosnider, a starter on the 1979 Edison team. 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. Zach Cavanagh is the sports editor for Picket Fence Media. I didnt tell anyone for a while. 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. I played HS football in the toughest league in CA, the trinity league at Servite HS. 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. Our defense played well tonight, said El Modena coach Matt Mitchell. He won Associated Press Sports Editors awards for game-story writing in 2001, feature-story writing in 2017 and breaking news in 2019. But the pass play failed on the conversion. Menu Join Team. And a loss for The Ted and Bob Show, which can now only be seen in reruns. 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. 2 years Defensive Back, Punt Returner, Kick Returner. It was a sobering experience. Smith snuck behind coverage to pull in a 31-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead. 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. Yet, some witnesses still claim that it was the most exciting game they had ever seen. Also many years as a Head Wrestling coach of boys and girls. Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. Sign in here. Frasco had been such a fine quarterback the year before, and we knew he would be such a great one that we wanted to work with him. 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. (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. We keep preaching get to the ball and play as a team and thats what we did tonight.. (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. Under those circumstances, I accepted. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith (5) almost breaks away from San Juan Hills defensive back Isaiah Bennett who pushes him out of bounds in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. (Gibbons said his removal stemmed from incidents during a San Luis Obispo baseball tournament last spring in which three Ocean View players were suspended for violating team rules). Sign In School Page; Team Page . Varsity Football (2019 - 2020) Team Record (5 - 6, 1 - 2) Roster (57) . 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 here. Kelly Bills is in his second season as Dixie State's offensive coordinator. Ive probably spent literally years watching film.. Dana Hills remained in front thanks to an enormous defensive play by Dendiu. 2000-2002 Varsity assistant coach at La Quinta with Guy Gardner. Go in there and do a job. . He also writes about high school football recruiting, including The Register's annual FAB 15 teams that list the top high school football players in the Western U.S. before National Signing Day. 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. Barrett said the success has made the transition much easier. In February, Snitzler was accused of meeting the student and communicating with the victim via text messages. El Modena football makes statement by sprinting, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), El Modena football makes statement by sprinting past San Juan Hills, Ryan Schoonmaker named football coach at Santa Ana, Frank McManus prepared himself for Mater Dei football coaching opportunity, Foothill girls water polo edges Orange Lutheran to win first CIF SoCal Regional title, Former Trabuco Hills football coach Jim Barnett, a three-time CIF champion, dies at age 76, Orange football loses another standout player in QB Hype Grand, Saturdays OC schedule for the basketball, soccer CIF SoCal Regional playoffs, Marina girls basketball earns its revenge against Gahr, advances to regional semifinals, Orange County girls water polo Top 10: Orange Lutheran finishes No. 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. View career profiles, stats, photos and video highlights. I didnt think wed be dominating like this, but we knew this was a special group of guys.. 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. The Chargers destroyed Canyon, 43-14. ASA College Brooklyn, NY (2017) Photo: Zach Cavanagh. The rivalry wont be the same without him. In nine years, Cuccias teams won seven Olympic League championships, compiled a 180-49 overall record and reached the Southern Section final three times. (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. If we hadnt had a winning season, Im sure there might have been complaints, Rush said. They have outscored their opponents 217-28. But Rush, who had been an assistant to Crow for 10 years, said the pressure was minimal, if any. . A strong Vanguard team in 1978 had lost its only game of the season to Edison. 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. (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. I am married with 3 children & 1 grandchild. Police found a gun inside the school, she said. Head Coach Myers, Michael Offensive Line Mitchell, Joe Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe . November 5, 2021 12:21AM . Black caught three passes for 84 yards. 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. Marty McWhinney knows what its like to come in on the heels of a legend. Varsity Football When will the Stallions get their first victory? Ledesma fumbled on the two-point conversion attempt, but Adams recovered in the end zone for a 22-21 lead. We knew he was a skilled kid, but we really hadnt worked with him. He was in the inaugural class inducted into the Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Hall of Fame. High School El Modena City Orange, CA; Class 2023; Watch Highlights. That lasted about a minute and a half, Lester said. Over in the Goliath camp, members of the former No. Coach Esperanza also attended the clinic to learn more about the game of football! (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Sam Astor celebrates making a touchdown catch against Villa Park in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Edison running back Kaleaph Carter is among Southern Californias most promising sophomores, but he will run into difficulty against fine Vanguard linemen Don Gibson (6-3, 255) and Allen Ennis (6-1, 220), as well as linebackers Ross Bauer, Joe Scagliotti and Pepe Jezek.