ORANGE – You play the way you practice.
As Villa Park’s Dusan Ancich saw it, his team got what it had coming after having – what he referred to – as an awful week of preparation.
But even in spite of how much it underwhelmed, the Spartans still found a way to leave El Modena High without an “L” in the standings.
Trailing for three and a half quarters in Thursday night’s nonleague game against El Modena, Villa Park scored 10 unanswered points in final nine minutes of the fourth quarter and escaped with a 10-9 victory.
Spartans junior kicker Anthony Firuta booted a 46-yard field goal with 4:08 to play, providing what proved to be the winning kick.
“We had a horrible week, and there you go,” Ancich explained. “Horrible week of practice; we had some low character things happen throughout the week. That’s what happens when our guys didn’t have the right approach … We deserved that. El Mo did a great job, they played really tough. We’re just fortunate we kept our composure, and we’re fortunate to walk away with a win tonight.”
The Vanguards (3-1) led most of the way, forcing and cashing in on a handful Villa Park (4-0) mistakes in the first half. Linebacker Scott Maggi’s first-quarter interception deep in Spartans territory set up the first of three Jordy Cruz field goals before the break. Cruz made kicks of 22, 33 and 20 yards, putting El Modena up 9-0 at the half.
With running back Kenneth Lamb and quarterback Garrett Gramm slowly but surely moving the chains, the Vanguards shortened the game in the third, possessing the ball for 10 minutes and 26 seconds to maintain a nine-point headed into the fourth.
Showing little signs of life, Villa Park scored its first points of the night on a fourth-and-14 play that saw Nick Sipe connect with Brennan Corbin down the seem for a 42-yard touchdown strike with 8:39 to play.
The Spartans claimed its first lead of the game on its ensuing possession when Firuta split the uprights from 46.
“I thought those kids played their hearts out,” Vanguards coach Ed Drzanek said of his squad. “They don’t need to sit there and have us talk them into something they’re not. We’re a good, physical football team.”
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
