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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

UPLAND – Friday night’s matchup between Upland and Tesoro had the feel of a late-November playoff showdown both on the field and in the stands.

With the Highlanders ranked as the West Valley Division’s No. 2 team in the latest CIF-SS poll, and the Titans coming it at No. 4, this very well could be a matchup played again in two months.

For now, round one goes to Tesoro thanks in large part to a dominant first half.

Junior quarterback Devon Modster silenced a hostile Upland crowd, accounting for 288 total yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ 28-14 nonleague win over the Highlanders.

Coming into the Week 2 showdown, Upland (2-1) had outscored its first two opponents by a combined 114-0.

On Tesoro’s opening drive, not only did Modster and the offense post the first points against the Highlanders’ defense, they outgained Upland’s previous two opponents in the process.

Modster’s 1-yard sneak capped a 16-play, 80-yard drive, putting the Titans ahead, 7-0.

Tesoro (2-1) converted 7 of 9 first downs in the opening half as Modster consistently picked apart the Highlanders secondary over the middle of the field. Running back Anthony Battista led all receivers with two catches for 99 yards in the opening half, setting up two touchdowns in the second quarter.

Titans defensive end Jake Hudson put an exclamation point on the first half, picking off Tyler Hilinski’s screen pass and returning it 11 yards for a touchdown, resulting in Tesoro’s 28-6 halftime lead.

An Upland touchdown in the third quarter cut the Titans lead to 14 points, but Modster and company used a near 9-minute drive in the fourth to end any threat.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com