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  • Claire Makaki is crowned Foothill's homecoming queen during a ceremony...

    Claire Makaki is crowned Foothill's homecoming queen during a ceremony at Friday night's game against El Modena at Tustin High. Claire is on crutches and will be undergoing cancer surgery next week.

  • Foothill's Gunnar Perales, left, draws a pass interference penalty by...

    Foothill's Gunnar Perales, left, draws a pass interference penalty by El Modena's Nickolas De Witt in the end zone.

  • The Foothill homecoming princesses cheer as Claire Makaki (fourth from...

    The Foothill homecoming princesses cheer as Claire Makaki (fourth from left) is named homecoming queen during a ceremony at Friday's game against El Modena at Tustin High. Claire is on crutches and will be undergoing cancer surgery next week.

  • Foothill's David Lopez carries the ball for an 8-yard gain...

    Foothill's David Lopez carries the ball for an 8-yard gain and a first down as El Modena tries to stop him during the first quarter on Friday at Tustin High. Foothill beat El Modena 14-7.

  • Claire Makaki is carried to the field before being named...

    Claire Makaki is carried to the field before being named Foothill new homecoming queen during a ceremony at Tustin High on Friday.

  • Foothill's Evan Mickelson kicks an extra point from a ball...

    Foothill's Evan Mickelson kicks an extra point from a ball held by Bobby Garcia on Friday at Tustin High. Foothill beat El Modena 14-7.

  • Foothill homecoming queen Claire Makaki poses for a photo with...

    Foothill homecoming queen Claire Makaki poses for a photo with her brother Mitchell Makaki, left, and her stepfather Tom Tomtralongo at the conclusion of this year's homecoming ceremony at Tustin High.

  • El Modena's Frankie Islas and Foothill's Joey Schlemmer leap for...

    El Modena's Frankie Islas and Foothill's Joey Schlemmer leap for a pass intended for El Modena with pass interference called against Foothill in the first half of Friday night's game at Tustin High.

  • The Foothill marching band gets into the music during Friday's...

    The Foothill marching band gets into the music during Friday's night football game against El Modena at Tustin High.

  • El Modena's AJ Esperanza runs with the ball as Foothill's...

    El Modena's AJ Esperanza runs with the ball as Foothill's Ezekiel Saldana grabs on in the first half of Friday night's game at Tustin High.

  • The Foothill High dance team performs during half time of...

    The Foothill High dance team performs during half time of Friday's game against El Modena.

  • Foothill tight end Ryan Munck catches the ball behind the...

    Foothill tight end Ryan Munck catches the ball behind the El Modena defense for a touchdown in the second quarter on Friday night at Tustin High.

  • Mackenize Nelson, right, stands for the National Anthem with the...

    Mackenize Nelson, right, stands for the National Anthem with the rest of the Foothill cheer team at the start of their game against El Modena on FridayTustin High.

  • Foothill's Gunnar Perales runs with the ball as El Modena...

    Foothill's Gunnar Perales runs with the ball as El Modena grabs on during Friday night's game at Tustin High. Foothill beat El Modena 14-7.

  • Foothill's Jimmy Latham runs with the ball for a 13-yard...

    Foothill's Jimmy Latham runs with the ball for a 13-yard gain and a first down during Friday night's game against El Modena at Tustin High.

  • El Modena's Kenneth Lamb takes the ball downfield as Foothill...

    El Modena's Kenneth Lamb takes the ball downfield as Foothill moves in during the first quarter on Friday at Tustin High.

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TUSTIN – Defense has been a reliable unit for Foothill this season, and the Knights leaned on those 11 players more than ever Friday night.

They came through with what amounted to a shutout in a 14-7 victory over El Modena in a nonleague game at Tustin High, bailing out an offense that committed five turnovers.

“All season long they’ve been playing great and keeping us in ballgames,” Foothill coach Doug Case said of the defense.

Even more impressive was its best defensive player, Cal-bound nose tackle Chris Yaghi, who was limited due to the flu, but still kept El Modena sophomore quarterback A.J. Esperanza under pressure all night.

The Knights (5-2) were tested even more in the fourth quarter after El Modena turned Foothill’s fourth turnover into a 48-yard fumble-return touchdown by linebacker Gio Peralta, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 8:07 left.

“We’re trying to put the game away and we didn’t take care of the ball there,” Case said.

Foothill turned the ball over again on its next possession when quarterback Preston Moebius was stripped of the ball just before he attempted to pass. El Modena recovered and drove to the Knights’ 21-yard line, but a fumbled snap gave the ball back to Foothill.

After the Knights punted the ball back to the Vanguards with 3:31 left, their defensive line continued its heavy pressure, and Ed Bain intercepted a sideline throw by Esperanza with 1:57 left.

El Modena (4-3) managed just 8 total yards in a sloppy first half, which ended with Foothill on top, 14-0.

Both teams turned the ball over on their opening possessions and the Vanguards twice had snaps sail over the head of Esperanza, resulting in a combined loss of 32 yards and killing both drives.

Foothill was aided by two pass-interference penalties on its second possession, the latter on fourth-and-9 from the El Modena 28. That moved the ball to the 14-yard line and Moebius then passed to Chris Reem for their fourth touchdown connection of the season.

The Knights tacked on another touchdown just before halftime when tight end Ryan Munck got behind the defense down the right sideline and made a nice over-the-shoulder catch for a 43-yard touchdown with 41 seconds left in the half.