El Modena Holds On for Victory

SANTA ANA — Santa Ana Valley held El Modena without a first down in the second half and quarterback Rolando Ramirez threw for 247 yards, but the Vanguards managed a 26-14 Century League victory Saturday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Falcons (1-5, 0-1), who trailed El Modena at halftime, 13-7, went to the air to open the third quarter. Ramirez, who completed only three of 15 passes in the first half, connected on three consecutive pass plays to Koa Bartlett, moving Santa Ana Valley to the El Modena 20.

But Jerome Anderson intercepted Ramirez’s next pass and returned it to midfield. El Modena (2-4, 1-0) didn’t capitalize on that miscue, but it did on the Falcons’ next possession, when a bad snap on a punt gave the Vanguards the ball at the Valley 44.

Two plays later, Charlie Williams ran outside and then cut up the middle for a 38-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Ramirez, who completed 16 of 41 passes for 287 yards, kept throwing on the Falcons’ next drive. After moving his team into El Modena territory, Reggie Franklin intercepted a pass and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown, giving the Vanguards a 26-7 lead late in the third quarter.

The Falcons finally capitalized on their next possession when Ramirez hit Mony Sambath for a 29-yard gain, then found Bartlett for a 13-yard touchdown. Bartlett finished with eight receptions for 165 yards.

The Falcons got the ball three times in the fourth quarter, but could generate only one first down.

Williams led El Modena with 122 yards rushing in 22 carries and the senior scored three touchdowns, including runs of two and 16 yards in the first half.