YORBA LINDA – At this point in program history, Villa Park is accustomed to winning football games. Motivation, it seems, comes with the jersey.
Villa Park is also accustomed to receiving every team’s best shot. For that reason, focus is of the utmost importance, and given the elite level at which Villa Park regularly plays, any lapse is critical.
Villa Park took Esperanza’s best shot Friday, requiring a second-half comeback in the rain to edge its Crestview League brethren, 13-10, at Yorba Linda High.
“I saw this (type of game) coming,” Villa Park coach Dusan Ancich said. “We were off this whole week. We beat Foothill last week in a game where everything went our way, and I felt we pressed a bit tonight. I could tell we didn’t have the same vibe we had the previous week.
“Esperanza was a lot more emotionally invested than we were.”
Nevertheless, Villa Park (7-2, 2-0) secured itself a postseason berth with one game left. This year’s team can capture the program’s fifth consecutive league title, which would be a school record.
“Our motivation is to improve on something every week,” Ancich said, “and we didn’t this week. I hope this slap in the face wakes us up.”
Villa Park running back Austin Zurbuchen finished with 74 rushing yards, 40 coming on a touchdown in the third quarter. Fresh off a 49-point explosion, Villa Park couldn’t get anything going offensively until then.
Esperanza’s ensuing possession resulted in Kory Garcia’s 28-yard interception return touchdown, which proved to be the difference.
“Our defense carried us, especially our defensive line in the second half,” Ancich said. “I thought they did a great job.”
Trailing 13-10 late in the third quarter, Esperanza (4-5, 1-1) came away empty on its final three drives, the last of which stalled near the red zone.
Esperanza took a 10-0 lead into intermission. Kicker Kyle Clements booted a 39-yard field goal on Esperanza’s first series, and receiver Marcus Surour scored on a 13-yard reception.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com
