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  • Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe is sacked by Canyon's Christian...

    Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe is sacked by Canyon's Christian Araiza during the first half of their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Canyon High fans battle for a t-shirt during the Comanches'...

    Canyon High fans battle for a t-shirt during the Comanches' football game against Villa Park Thursday night at Fred Kelly Stadium.

  • The Canyon High homecoming court poses for a photograph during...

    The Canyon High homecoming court poses for a photograph during halftime of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Canyon High cheerleader Kaela Ewing listens to the National Anthem...

    Canyon High cheerleader Kaela Ewing listens to the National Anthem before the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Canyon High students wait to decorate for the halftime activities...

    Canyon High students wait to decorate for the halftime activities during the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Josh Moorehead hauls in a long reception under...

    Villa Park's Josh Moorehead hauls in a long reception under double coverage from Canyons' Elliott Payne and Christopher Tsirtsis during their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Delanie Moore, left, and Katrina Moganam hug before the Comanches'...

    Delanie Moore, left, and Katrina Moganam hug before the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • The Villa Park captains walk out to the coin toss...

    The Villa Park captains walk out to the coin toss before their football game against Canyon Thursday night at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange.

  • Homecoming King Vinit Parekh celebrates with Queen Kimberly Thai after...

    Homecoming King Vinit Parekh celebrates with Queen Kimberly Thai after she was announced the winner during halftime activities of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Josh Torres leads the Spartans onto the field...

    Villa Park's Josh Torres leads the Spartans onto the field before their football game against Canyon High at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Homecoming queen Kimberly Thai, at right, is congratulated after winning...

    Homecoming queen Kimberly Thai, at right, is congratulated after winning during halftime activities of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Jack Lloyd drags down Canyon quarterback Jason Harman...

    Villa Park's Jack Lloyd drags down Canyon quarterback Jason Harman during the first half of their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Canyon cheerleader Skylar Tynan is tossed into the air before...

    Canyon cheerleader Skylar Tynan is tossed into the air before the Comanches football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Julian Dahl (20) lays a hard hit on...

    Villa Park's Julian Dahl (20) lays a hard hit on Canyon's Charlie Treanor (2) during their game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange on Thursday night. Villa Park won, 26-13.

  • Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe hands off to Ramon Chaves...

    Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe hands off to Ramon Chaves during the first half of their football game against Canton High at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Valerie Morales and her dad Ygnacio get a ride to...

    Valerie Morales and her dad Ygnacio get a ride to the Canyon High homecoming activities at halftime of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Canyon's Michael Freeman powers his way to a first half...

    Canyon's Michael Freeman powers his way to a first half touchdown past Villa Park's John Stamos, left, and Khalil Wilson during their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • The Villa Park band performs before the Spartans' football game...

    The Villa Park band performs before the Spartans' football game against Canyon High at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Ramon Chaves is dragged down by Canyon's Avery...

    Villa Park's Ramon Chaves is dragged down by Canyon's Avery Jones during their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • The Canyon High homecoming court poses for a photograph during...

    The Canyon High homecoming court poses for a photograph during halftime of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park at Fred Kelly Stadium Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Brennan Corbin celebrates scoring a touchdown on a...

    Villa Park's Brennan Corbin celebrates scoring a touchdown on a first half interception next to Canyon's Charlie Treanor during their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Canyon High fans shine their support during the Comanches' football...

    Canyon High fans shine their support during the Comanches' football game against Villa Park Thursday night at Fred Kelly Stadium.

  • Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe throws a pass under pressure...

    Villa Park quarterback Nick Sipe throws a pass under pressure from Canyon's Avery Jones during their football game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

  • Canyon homecoming king Vinit Parekh celebrates with queen Kimberly Thai...

    Canyon homecoming king Vinit Parekh celebrates with queen Kimberly Thai after she was announced the winner during halftime activities of the Comanches' football game against Villa Park on Thursday night.

  • Villa Park's Brennan Corbin returns the opening kickoff for a...

    Villa Park's Brennan Corbin returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown as Devin Gill, center, starts to celebrate during their football game against Canyon at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange Thursday night.

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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

ORANGE – Villa Park carried extra motivation into its game Thursday against Canyon, but Spartans coach Dusan Ancich wasn’t sure it would translate into well-executed play.

Brennan Corbin and his Villa Park teammates supplied the answer early and often.

Corbin returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and also returned an interception 34 yards for another score late in the second quarter to help the Spartans defeat the rival Comanches, 26-13, at El Modena.

Running back Ramon Chaves added a pair of touchdowns as the Spartans (6-0) cooled off Canyon (3-3), ranked No. 1 in the Southern Division.

Villa Park, ranked fourth in the Southwest Division, drew motivation from comments by Canyon coach Mike Ogas that earlier opponents San Juan Hills and Edison were better than Villa Park.

“We took those comments to heart,” said Corbin, a senior who has been offered by Colorado State. “And they picked us for homecoming, too, which is kind of disrespectful, but we came out and answered it.

“When the pressure is on us, we do great – just like El Modena.”

Ogas said his comments and the homecoming scheduling were not intended to offend Villa Park.

The Spartans finished the first half strong to lead, 19-7, and scored the first points of the second half on Chaves’ 2-yard run late in the fourth for a 26-7 advantage.

Villa Park’s defense forced Canyon to turn the ball over on downs at the Comanches’ 46 and Villa Park 19 in the third quarter.

“Any time you beat a rival it’s special,” Ancich said. “I’m just happy for our kids to get the win because they all know the other kids.”

Chaves rushed for 123 yards, including touchdowns of 2 and 5 yards, on 20 carries to lead a strong ground attack. John Stamos added 69 yards and Austin Zurbuchen had 56 as Villa Park finished with 240 yards rushing.

“They got us on the ground pretty good,” Ogas said. “We just didn’t play real well.”

Villa Park scored twice in the final 38 seconds of the first half to lead, 19-7, at halftime.

Corbin supplied the final touch by returning an interception 34 yards for a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the second quarter for a 19-7 lead. The Spartans’ 2-point conversion failed.

The cornerback’s second interception of the season came 15 seconds after Chaves capped a 69-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left in the opening half.

Wide receiver Josh Moorehead helped set up the score with a diving, 38-yard reception to the Canyon 10 with 55 seconds left. Quarterback Nick Sipe’s deep pass connected with Moorehead between two defenders.

Canyon tied the score, 7-7, on the first play of the second quarter on Michael Freeman’s 21-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass from Jason Harman.

Harman threw a late touchdown to Noah White in the fourth. He passed for 107 yards and led the Comanches in rushing with 68 yards.

Christian Araiza had two sacks to help lead Canyon’s defense.

Shane Darsow and Jack Lloyd recorded sacks for Villa Park with Josh Torres broke up two passes.

Ancich and Corbin both expressed concern with penalties. The Spartans were flagged 14 times for 132 yards.

“We got a lot more stuff to work on – way too many penalties,” Corbin said. “We need to work on our discipline. Our skill guys, no one can match up with us.”

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com