ORANGE – The long string of nonleague games for El Modena and Foothill ended Thursday with Foothill beating the Vanguards, 34-13, at El Modena High.
Both teams played seven nonleague games. El Modena will take a 2-5 record into its North Hills League opener next Friday at Brea Olinda. Foothill is 5-2 as it prepares for its Crestview League opener against league-favorite Villa Park on Thursday at El Modena High.
There are four teams in each league that are part of the eight-school Century Conference.
Foothill junior quarterback Preston Moebius threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. Dezmond Hodges added a touchdown run, and backup quarterback Ammon Olson and running back Jimmy Latham combined on a 30-yard screen pass play for a touchdown. Devon Anderson and Ryan Munck caught the touchdown passes thrown by Moebius.
El Modena’s Patrick Marzolino scored El Modena’s touchdown on a pass from Garrett Gramm. Jose Navas kicked two field goals for the Vanguards.
The Knights outscored the Vanguards, 21-3, in the second half.
Foothill coach Doug Case has been anxious for league play to begin.
“We’d better be ready right now,” Case said. “We’re going against a great ballclub with Villa Park next week. All of a sudden we’ve got to gear it up, but every other team’s in the same boat.”
Moebius said the Knights did not look past El Modena.
“We’ve had to keep it rolling,” he said. “We’ve come to every game like it’s a league game.”
El Modena took a 3-0 lead on Navas’ 27-yard field goal to finish the Vanguards’ opening possession.
Foothill went ahead on its first possession that began in the final two minutes of the first quarter and stretched into the first minutes of the second. Moebius connected with Anderson on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point kick missed, leaving the Knights with a 6-3 lead.
The Knights made it 13-3 later in the second quarter when Moebius threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Munck.
El Modena got a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter on a 14-yard scoring pass from Gramm to Marzolino. That reduced Foothill’s lead to 13-10 at halftime.
Navas’ second field goal, in the third quarter, tied it, 13-13. Foothill then pulled away on Moebius’ 26-yard touchdown run, Hodges’ 8-yard touchdown run and the Olson-to-Latham touchdown pass.
El Modena was without starting quarterback Daniel Contreras and running back Kenneth Lamb. Both were out because of injuries.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
