After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer). The thing was, they wanted Bob to continue coaching, but they also realized that (his years of coaching) were numbered. The stress never seemed to affect Lester, though. High school baseball and softball: Friday's scores Police found a gun inside the school, she said. The Vanguards Mayson Hitchens had two catches for 44 yards, one of them a reception of a short pass over the middle that he turned into a 38-yard gain by bowling over three defenders. The Vanguards stuck to the ground and rushed in a five-yard touchdown to take the game, 23-20. Its my last high school football game. Blake Califf kicked a 39-yard field goal to put the Spartans on top 3-0 midway through the first quarter. "I didn't think we'd be. All-Time Roster - El Modena Vanguards Football (Orange, CA) - MaxPreps.com ORANGE The Dana Hills football team fought. Private football Coaches in Utah | CoachUp Some people thought it was funny that Lester would even have the audacity to mention winning. . Im serious. Its not that it hasnt been a marvelous experience--it certainly has--but Im getting more selfish with my time. New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Nov 3 Shane Whitehill continues to rack up sacks with another one to force Pasadena to Punt! On the Dolphins ensuing possession, Kelly extended and found senior Owen Chambers deep on a 56-yard pass, and on the next play, Kelly fired it up the middle to Black on a 19-yard touchdown pass. O.C. High School Football Coach Faces Charges for Sex With Minor - KTLA Nothing cures more ills than success . Owen Smith rushed for 161 yards and a score, and Mayson Hitchens rushed for two scores and added three sacks as the Vanguards (5-0) defeated their second consecutive Top-25 opponent. But if there was any pressure, it was self-made. Ledesma fumbled on the two-point conversion attempt, but Adams recovered in the end zone for a 22-21 lead. This coach is unavailable to take clients at this time. Especially because the Diablos finished last season 12-1 overall. But at the end of the day, (the schedule) is good for us. The play set up another El Modena touchdown. Rick went in and played a heck of a football game, Lester said. Im a coach that believes in technique and knowledge which allows one to go out and dominate. Varsity Football Chris Dunham Oct 7 Coach Mitchell giving the refs a pregame pep talk!! This will be a hard-fought game, and Edison should emerge victorious by a point. Ive probably spent literally years watching film.. Guess rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. I played HS football in the toughest league in CA, the trinity league at Servite HS. Other coaches surely envy his staff, which includes 20-year assistants Glenn Lukenbill and Bob Radford, 18-year assistant Dale Arambel, 12-year assistants Pete Parker and Bill Backstrom, and 5-year assistant Al Clinton. Adams completed his final six passes to finish with 68 yards passing and a touchdown. "I think we're good," Mitchell said. At least with having the others there, it wasnt like bringing in an entirely new program. Coach is willing to travel up to 50 miles, Qualified Private Coach Adams 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Leftwich with 2:29 remaining in the game completed the scoring. He turned a program that once had problems having a winning season into a program that was a big winner. Before the 1985 season began, Bob Lester, El Modena High School football coach, promised himself that this would be a kick-back kind of year--that he wasnt going to get too excited on Friday nights, and that he wasnt going to lose any sleep worrying about what play to call on third and short. He always has been the type to joke around at practice, and hes always been a hit with the media, often providing reporters with funny one-liners. Football Recruiting / California / Orange, CA / El Modena High School / Jackson Keays. Mullen eventually made it to Foothill, where the Knight-Vanguard rivalry in the Century League and in the playoffs evolved as one of the countys best. El Modena beats Villa Park in football for the first time in 15 years As the fog descended upon Fred Kelly Stadium, Dana Hills went blow-for-blow against a physical and tested El Modena squad. BYU vs. Utah Tech: Father and son coaches on opposite sidelines You hate to lose, San Juan Hills coach Robert Frith said before the game of the schedule. When the Dolphins last sniffed playoff contention in 2019, they were fighting for a spot in Division 12. Key to the game--Much will depend on the effectiveness of the El Modena defense, particularly the Vanguards untested secondary. Advertising Steve Barrett, Ocean Views baseball coach, knows the feeling. Choucair and linebacker Owen Smith, who were both All-CIF selections last season, and linebackers Brodie Hitchens and Kyle Medel and lineman Davian Ceballos were among the many contributors to another fine defensive effort by the Vanguards. Athletics - El Modena High School El Modena High School Athletic Director: Ed Drzanek EMHS Athletics Showcase Message EMHS Athletics Showcase Message Loading. Before the 1985 season began, Bob Lester, El Modena High School football coach, promised himself that this would be a kick-back kind of year--that he wasn't going to get too excited on. 4TH DOWN: Dana Hills stops the El Modena drive on this Hayden Dendiu breakup. Theyve been playing hard and together as a group. A client should expect nothing but excellence from me. 2019-current Freshman assistant football coach at El Modena HS. The Vanguards ran for 280 yards and four . We were so damn scared of them. A strong Vanguard team in 1978 had lost its only game of the season to Edison. Menu Join Team. Mark that as the first major accomplishment in the Henney's tenure as head coach. I will focus on technique and being efficient in and out of breaks. Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe Assistant Coach Kulda, Greg Assistant Coach Tafua, Steve . Youre going to be bummed out. Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. The Vanguards went on a scouting mission to watch Edison play a talented Canyon team the previous week. @ElModenaHS @emfb_mitchell @cespybaseball . Its a good thing though weve had more Ws than Ls, he said. . I was pretty sure that all of the basketball parents wanted Bill to come back. Personalized, one-on-one instruction is the secret to improved skills and increased confidence. And he still yells at me if I do something wrong, and still pats me on the back when I do something right.. In overtime, Dana Hills got hit with one more holding penalty to stall their one extra possession. 2018 Varsity assistant at El Modena HS. @dhhs_athletics pic.twitter.com/dsg4t9Eerl. He also had two receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. El Modena (11-0) advances to next week's second round against Friday's Bishop Diego-Vista Murrieta winner, while Pasadena, which started the season with a 15-14 loss to La Serna, ends the way. 1, Santa Margarita girls, Portola boys race to titles at Capistrano Valley swimming relays, Disneyland quietly removes controversial lyric from new parade soundtrack, Fannie Mae halts financing for 6,102 condos in Laguna Woods, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, 2 arrested in Anaheim on suspicion of possessing $463,000 in stolen merchandise, Baram and Tioumentsev win World Junior title hours after their coach, Todd Sand, suffers heart attack, Lake Forest woman filed restraining order against daughter 8 years before being killed in their home, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Taco Mesita opens flagship location in Old Town Tustin, OC Restaurant Week kicks off Sunday, March 5, Lake Forest man convicted of killing stepmom with pickaxe, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It was this kind of stress that Lester acknowledged as the main reason he decided to resign Tuesday, after compiling a 157-58-8 record and winning three Southern Conference championships in two decades at the school. Team talk with a humble, two-way baller @HitchensMayson of 5-0 @elmodenafb @ElmoHSAthletics @OrangeUnifiedCA @OSmith_5 @elishah_jackett @ocvarsity @SteveFryer pic.twitter.com/XgrWOXB4Ar, Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 24, 2022. ASA College Brooklyn, NY (2017) Time kept rolling and the half ended. Support Local Journalism Smith rushed for 20 and 12 yards on his first two carries, the first two plays from scrimmage of the game. It was a team yearning to be coached, Henney said. He specializes in football and all the aquatics but covers many different sports. 2014 Varsity assistant at Orange HS. It was just a high school football game played six seasons ago. The awe-inspiring Edison team was led by Frank Seurer, later a professional quarterback for the Los Angeles Express and the son of the former Denver Bronco of the same name. Steve Fryer covers high school sports at the Orange County Register. I walked on at BYU and learned the WR position my whole time there transitioning from QB to WR. He then spent a year as a graduate assistant at Colorados Adams State College before moving to Duarte High to become head coach in 1963. Orange Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students in all academic programs and school activities. After that, Ledesma came on (during the remainder of the season) and became one of the finest quarterbacks we ever had.. Three years ago, Paul Orris replaced Jack Errion, who retired after 11 years as Corona del Mars basketball coach. Also many years as a Head Wrestling coach of boys and girls. Santiago HS (Garden Grove) 26-year-old Michael James Snitzler, a Santa Ana resident, is a former El Modena High School varsity football coach. Dana Hills remained in front thanks to an enormous defensive play by Dendiu. After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. The pressure was so enormous . 14 El Modena answered its question emphatically Friday night with a well-rounded 29-6 victory against No. Guess scored on a weaving-through-the-middle run of 28 yards to stretch the advantage to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter. Dana Hills Football Pushes to Overtime at El Modena, Falls in First CIF Photo: Zach Cavanagh. Trying to steady his left arm, Frasco led the Vanguards down the field. If we hadnt had a winning season, Im sure there might have been complaints, Rush said. El Modena Football on Twitter: "Shoutout to Coach Mitchell for In one period of years from 1978 to 1985, we had a run of eight straight years where we were in at least the semifinals every year. Although Edison built a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the El Modena defense held the formidable Bell to just 10 yards rushing on six carries in the first half. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown as he is grabbed by San Juan Hills defensive back Isaiah Bennett, right, in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. El Modena HS Varsity Football. It Was the Best of Times, It Was El Modena Time Barrett replaced former Seahawk Coach Bill Gibbons after Gibbons was fired last June. When the defense came on the field, he exited for the hospital, where X-rays revealed he had broken his forearm. The Spartans start Crestview League games at Yorba Linda on Oct. 14. Not that it was any ill will toward me--I dont think it was. "We worked. Bill was a very popular coach here with the kids and the parents, Brown said. None of the 6,500 people who sat transfixed in Fred Kelly Stadium will ever forget it, either. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ZachCav and follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SouthOCSports. Many county coaches side with Backstrom in that replacing a successful coach isnt too difficult--especially when the former coach helps when he can. Football Coach in Provo, UT | Neil P. | CoachUp Scouting Report You have to give the other team credit for that.. Smith punctuated the possession with a 6-yard TD run and ran in the 2-point conversion after a penalty by San Juan Hills. Lewis appeared to be dealing with a leg injury after the contest. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, celebrates his touchdown against San Juan Hills with wide receiver Sam Astor (11) in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. El Modenas defense did its part by holding the Stallions to 83 yards offense in the first half, most of which came on the final 1:30 on the arm of Tollefson. It was a sensitive situation.. I didnt think wed be dominating like this, but we knew this was a special group of guys.. I have a passion for playing the WR position and you will get the very best from me. The Dolphins battled. Hes had such a good thing going with the parents and the players, its tough to see him leave.. Honestly, I think Im more happy than sad. Already a member? The Vanguards have 1139 players on their Football all-time roster. If we didnt, I think theyd be calling for my neck. During his first year as the OC, the Trailblazers averaged 421 yards of total offense, including nearly 300 ypg in the air, and 31.4 ppg. Ledesma completed 6 of 11 passes for 139 yards in the second half against the Chargers. The Vanguards opened a 22-0 lead late in the third quarter on a 27-yard TD pass from Xzavior Guess to Blake Armstrong on a fourth-and-7. At Whittier Christian, basketball Coach Bob Brown replaced Bill Cuccia last year after Cuccia resigned. During his first year as the OC, the Trailblazers averaged 421 yards of total offense, including nearly 300 ypg in the air, and 31.4 ppg. @dhhs_athletics pic.twitter.com/tIf1Y24Bwn, When you play your heart out and you have hopes for a ring, youre going to feel down and everything, Kelly said. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith tries to get by Villa Park cornerback Mark Meagher for more yardage in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. I couldnt believe what happened.. Gardening Stuff & Plant cuttings Exchange Feb 11th Irvine Great Park.]. Coach Bios | El Modena Varsity Football (2022 - 2023) | Blast Athletics El Modena had possession, and Frasco was scrambling near his teams end zone. @dhhs_athletics @hdendiu pic.twitter.com/I3WMFdMhOk. Dana Hills (8-3) broke through some barriers for the program this season. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Sophomore Nate Lewis started but was replaced during the game by junior Cooper Adams. El Modena ended that streak by defeating the Spartans 28-13 on Thursday night at El Modena High. Before the game, Lester had grimly predicted, We dont win if Frasco doesnt have a big game. He was referring to quarterback Bob Frasco, the Ducks main asset. For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an Insider member and continue to get Local News You Can Use from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County. Some coaches, especially those who had been on the staff for a long time before accepting the head coaching job, say replacing a very successful coach was not much of a problem at all. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park quarterback Vince Lagatta, left, gets rid of the ball as El Modena defensive tackle Shane Whitehill, center, and outside linebacker Kyle Medel close in during the first quarter of a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. El Modena football makes statement by sprinting past San Juan Hills At Mission Viejo, Mike Rush took over last season for Bill Crow, who had coached football at Mission Viejo for 18 years, including the last eight years as head coach. We will be working the core, dynamic warm ups and then depended on how the client moves different tools for their tool box. Snitzler is currently in custody being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. ORANGE El Modena was dominant in the trenches and cruised to a 38-0 win over Santa Ana in a nonleague football game Thursday at El Modena High. Though Lester listed stress as a reason for retiring, most perceive him as one of the countys most easygoing, relaxed coaches. Jackson Keays's Football Recruiting Profile - NCSASports.org . El Modena HS Varsity Football. Twitter. No one was hurt. But Rush, who had been an assistant to Crow for 10 years, said the pressure was minimal, if any. Hes been like a second father to me., Said Lukenbill, an assistant: This is the end of an era and a lot of good times. Zach is a multiple California Journalism Award winner and has covered sports in Orange County since 2013. In his eight years coaching at Ocean View, Gibbons led the Seahawks to three Sunset League championships since 1985, and guided the team at least as far as the Southern Section quarterfinals every year since 1983. But, after an inspirational post-game talk, which Cuccia attended, Brown said the players were remotivated to win a Southern Section championship--something no Whittier Christian team had done. Sign In School Page; Team Page . When will the Stallions get their first victory? With the final seconds ticking down in the half, El Modena connected a swing pass that looked destined for the end zone, but Dendiu stonewalled the Vanguard receiver at the 1-yard line. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena running back Owen Smith, left, runs along the sideline for more yardage as he is chased by San Juan Hills defensive back Isaiah Bennett on a pass play in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong signals a touchdown along with the referee after scoring on a pass play against San Juan Hills in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills quarterback Michael Butter Tollefson, left, scrambles as he is chased out of the pocket by an El Modena defender in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. I also think theyre going to take away the passion that Bo, Omar, Hayden, Jagger (Wiesen) play with, Henney said, and try and continue that to start a real tradition of having competitive football program at Dana Hills.. When Bob asked me if I would take over, I had no intention of being the head coach, Backstrom said. Shane Whitehill (@ShaneWhitehill1) / Twitter El Modena High School Orange, CA Coach Bios Michael Myers Offensive Line Sean Fryer Coach (714) 454-3331 stfryer@gmail.com El Modena Head Girls Lacrosse Richard Garcia Coach 1 (714) 875-9121 ragarcia@orangeusd.org El Modena Freshman coach 10th season Samuel Sepulveda Coach (714) 724-3373 sam.sepulveda11@gmail.com Aaron Shahrestani Coach Bell carried the Chargers 53 yards on seven carries, and Edison was in front, 27-22, three minutes later when Seurer ran the ball in from the one. 25 Feb 2023 01:23:28 435-652-7628. Speaking of bad luck, the El Modena Vanguards--or the Ducks as their colorful coach prefers--actually had to absorb the majority of it. Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way. Ledesma rallied the Vanguards with less than two minutes to go, and he won the unwinnable game on a nine-yard pass to wide receiver Scott Buehler with 50 seconds left.