(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), The Villa Park drum major salutes during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of the game against El Modena in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Today, some of the Vanguards are college students, such as the Rozsa triplets, who attend UCLA. His next scheduled court appearance is May 12 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Dan is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, where he worked at The Daily Titan as a news reporter, sports reporter, managing editor and opinion editor. Black caught three passes for 84 yards. Smith snuck behind coverage to pull in a 31-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead. Lester began his coaching career at La Veta High in Colorado in 1956, where he spent four seasons before moving to Colorados Salido High for two years. Snitzler was employed as an assistant varsity football coach during the time he was alleged to have been involved with the student. Its not easy to sever something thats been important to you for so long, but I know that on the weekends, when everyone else is out playing, were here 10 hours Saturday and 10 hours Sunday, watching film and eating Jack-in-The-Box hotdogs, Lester said. El Modena football makes statement by sprinting, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), El Modena football makes statement by sprinting past San Juan Hills, Ryan Schoonmaker named football coach at Santa Ana, Frank McManus prepared himself for Mater Dei football coaching opportunity, Foothill girls water polo edges Orange Lutheran to win first CIF SoCal Regional title, Former Trabuco Hills football coach Jim Barnett, a three-time CIF champion, dies at age 76, Orange football loses another standout player in QB Hype Grand, Saturdays OC schedule for the basketball, soccer CIF SoCal Regional playoffs, Marina girls basketball earns its revenge against Gahr, advances to regional semifinals, Orange County girls water polo Top 10: Orange Lutheran finishes No. 866-495-5172. View career profiles, stats, photos and video highlights. Varsity assistant at Orange HS 1 year with Dick Hill 1997. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills fans watch fireworks before the start of the game against El Modena in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. The charges Snitzler is facing could result in a more than 10-year prison sentence, according to Rackauckas. 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. It has also been harder and harder to lose. The Vanguards took their opening possession 56 yards on seven plays for a score. 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. Steve also is in the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, and was the first journalist to receive the Contribution to Education award from the Orange County Department of Education. Two days following the April 23 standoff, Snitzler was charged with possessing a firearm in a school zone, discharging or attempting to discharge a firearm in a gun-free school zone -- all of which are felonies -- and possession of ammunition on school property, a misdemeanor, according to Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. 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. San Juan Hills entered 0-5 for the second consecutive season. Collecting Controversy : The curios and figurines of a racist past are hot properties. Already a member? Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network. We sat down every day during our office period and bounced things off each other. puts a smile on my face. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), San Juan Hills wide receiver Jon Jack Shigo hangs onto a pass to make the reception against El Modena in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. --In 1981, when it was announced that El Modena would be playing Edison, which was accused of recruiting players from outside the district: Its in our contract that after Edison gets 40 points, theyve got to play all kids from Huntington Beach., --On the prospect of facing long-time friend Ted Mullen, coach at rival Foothill High, in the 1983 Southern Conference final: Id just as soon see someone else over there besides Teds ugly face., --On Foothills Joe Walshe, who had a mustache and weighed 270 pounds when he starred at defensive end for the Knights in 1983: Hes a helluva football player, which he ought to be considering hes 35.. it was bad karma, said Scott Strosnider, a starter on the 1979 Edison team. Passed Coach Course. But the pass play failed on the conversion. As the fog descended upon Fred Kelly Stadium, Dana Hills went blow-for-blow against a physical and tested El Modena squad. Hes great! On Wednesday, the district attorney's office filed additional charges against Snitzler related to his alleged sexual relationship with a minor including unlawful sexual intercourse and child annoyance. Edison running back Kaleaph Carter is among Southern Californias most promising sophomores, but he will run into difficulty against fine Vanguard linemen Don Gibson (6-3, 255) and Allen Ennis (6-1, 220), as well as linebackers Ross Bauer, Joe Scagliotti and Pepe Jezek. Casa de Tortuga Is Just Simply Crawling With Tortoises: 450 of Them. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), Villa Park quarterback Vince Lagatta, left, rolls out of the pocket as he is chased and taken down by El Modena defensive tackle Esteban Choucair, (55) in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Lester said 1979 was supposed to be a down year, and in fact the 79 team had already lost a game to Loara before meeting Edison. Afrookhteh knocked through a 26-yard field goal to put Dana Hills ahead, 20-17. Chief among them was senior quarterback Bo Kelly, who completed 18 of 32 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. In 2015, Dan received the Bud Dwyer Jr. media award from the Southern California High School Football Coaches Association. Dana Hills remained in front thanks to an enormous defensive play by Dendiu. . When will the Stallions get their first victory? . Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? I remember it as if it were yesterday. After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. And a loss for The Ted and Bob Show, which can now only be seen in reruns. Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe Assistant Coach Kulda, Greg Assistant Coach Tafua, Steve . In overtime, Dana Hills got hit with one more holding penalty to stall their one extra possession. Ledesma completed 6 of 11 passes for 139 yards in the second half against the Chargers. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modenas Mayson Hitchens, left, runs past Villa Parks Carter Christie after catching a pass to set up a El Modena touchdown in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Thirteen members of that Edison team received football scholarships. The reason is that Charger quarterback Mike Angelovic has the advantage of two of the countys better returning receivers, wide receiver Rick Justice (44 passes for 902 yards last season) and tight end Ken Griggs (14 receptions for 226 yards). That makes a big difference, I think.. In football or economic terms, those fans got a colossal bargain. At Whittier Christian, basketball Coach Bob Brown replaced Bill Cuccia last year after Cuccia resigned. Quarterback Michael Tollefson powered the drive with his running and finished with 63 yards on the ground. Every time he talks, he makes me feel so good . And he wouldnt wish the experience on anyone. Smith punctuated the possession with a 6-yard TD run and ran in the 2-point conversion after a penalty by San Juan Hills. After spending 11 years as his assistant, Bill Backstrom replaced Bob Lester as El Modena football coach in 1985. He won Associated Press Sports Editors awards for game-story writing in 2001, feature-story writing in 2017 and breaking news in 2019. El Modena had to string together a 13-play drive to get back in front, 17-14, and the Dolphins responded on the next drive to tie the score, 17-17, on a 34-yard field goal by senior Kian Afrookhteh. Dan's passion for water sports has earned him the nickname, Aqua Dan, in the newsroom and taken him to multiple U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and many USA water polo events as a reporter. El Modena HS Football Program. Basically, I was the young guy coming in and I dont think they wanted to hurt the future. I want to do some of the things I havent done in 30 years, such as hunt in the fall, take a full summer off, not excrete so much stomach acid in the fall . When Bob asked me if I would take over, I had no intention of being the head coach, Backstrom said. Mark that as the first major accomplishment in the Henneys tenure as head coach. Phone. Ive learned from some of your favorite players and taught some of them some things I do well at the WR position. They scored 49 points in a win over Foothill on Saturday, Oct. 8. Head Coach Myers, Michael Offensive Line Mitchell, Joe Assistant Coach Mendoza, Joe . Foothill and El Modena have been going at it for about 35 years now, and the series is even, 17 wins apiece with three ties. . Both touchdowns were thrown to senior Omarjaye Black for 68 yards and 19 yards. Barrett replaced former Seahawk Coach Bill Gibbons after Gibbons was fired last June. Lewis appeared to be dealing with a leg injury after the contest. El Modena Captains getting ready for the coin toss against Yorba Linda! Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach. 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. 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. Even the principal here (John Meyers) called me in and said he expected to have a winning season. Sign up here. Father and son will be on opposite sidelines when the two teams meet next Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Entering his 20th season as the Vanguards coach, Lester, 55, figured he would delegate most of the workload to his fine group of assistants, oversee the operation, and try to relax and enjoy football for a change. 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. Many county coaches side with Backstrom in that replacing a successful coach isnt too difficult--especially when the former coach helps when he can. He was in the inaugural class inducted into the Santa Ana Unified School District Sports Hall of Fame. While attending Vanguard University, Brandon also started his coaching career as an assistant football coach at El Modena High School in 2014. He was honored as a Jim Staunton Champion for Character by the CIF-Southern Section in 2017. Im serious. . In his 20 years at El Modena, Lester has had just two losing seasons, in 1969 (2-6-1) and 1973 (3-5-1). WR/DB Coach I have coached kids to high school guys to college guys. Nowadays, when players from the 1979 El Modena High School football team get together to recall a little of their glory days, that is the night that springs to mind. All League 1st Team DB (2005) The Vanguards ran for 280 yards and four . I dont know if you can ask for any more. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess, left, pushes San Juan Hills defensive back Ryan Haghani away as he takes the ball for a gain in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. In the second half, cornerback Eddie Martinez chipped in an interception to help the Vanguards defense. Neil P. - I'm a coach that believes in technique and knowledge which allows one to go out and dominate. In the second half, it was the defenses that reigned. I think if there was a time that people might have second-guessed me, that couldve been it.. I couldnt believe what happened.. El Modena beats Villa Park in football for the, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), El Modena beats Villa Park in football for the first time in 15 years, Ryan Schoonmaker named football coach at Santa Ana, Frank McManus prepared himself for Mater Dei football coaching opportunity, Foothill girls water polo edges Orange Lutheran to win first CIF SoCal Regional title, Former Trabuco Hills football coach Jim Barnett, a three-time CIF champion, dies at age 76, Orange football loses another standout player in QB Hype Grand, Saturdays OC schedule for the basketball, soccer CIF SoCal Regional playoffs, Marina girls basketball earns its revenge against Gahr, advances to regional semifinals, Orange County girls water polo Top 10: Orange Lutheran finishes No. I hated going to play at El Modena; I just never liked the place . Dana Hills offense got stuck thanks to a physical El Modena pass rush, which forced holding calls against the Dolphins and long down-and-distances late. Next week, El Modena plays Foothill in a nonleague game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Tustin High. The Vanguards begin North Hills League play Oct. 13 against El Dorado. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena wide receiver Blake Armstrong, left, fights off Villa Park wide receiver Isaiah Moraldo in a non-league football game in Orange on Thursday, September 29, 2022. 2000-2002 Varsity assistant coach at La Quinta with Guy Gardner. Adams completed his final six passes to finish with 68 yards passing and a touchdown. So far under Barrett the Seahawks are 12-4 overall and lead the Sunset League with a 4-1 record. 8 games started at WR. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess changes direction to get away from San Juan Hills defenders in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. Menu Join Team. But if there was any pressure, it was self-made. TOUCHDOWN: Dana Hills responds lightning fast. By 2017, the El Modena football program was . Bill Gibbons is like a living legend around here, he said. Early in the third quarter Hitchens recovered at Villa Park fumble at the Spartans 26 and returned it to the 5. 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.. 2019-current Freshman assistant football coach at El Modena HS. El Modena 11, Placentia Valencia 1. The Chargers also had tight end Mark Boyer, who went on to play at USC and is now employed by the Indianapolis Colts; linebacker Ray Malavasi, son of the former Ram coach, and tight end Duaine Jackson, another subsequent USC starter. Steve also writes a weekly column that covers pro and college sports, and other topics. The pressure was so enormous . Dana Hills led 14-10. Jen Amat told City News Service. Orange Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students in all academic programs and school activities. I hate to see it go, but you know it has to happen. Villa Park struggled to establish an offensive flow and wounding up using two quarterbacks. 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. (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. The Dolphins gave it all they had and more, but as Dana Hills first CIF-SS playoff game since 2013 dragged on into overtime, it was the Vanguards that emerged from the mist victorious. A week ago last Monday, Jamison's wife, Savannah . 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. 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. It was a sobering experience. 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. It was a sensitive situation.. 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. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer), El Modena quarterback Xzavior Guess (9) finds his way through the San Juan Hills defense in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. 13 in the Orange County Top 25. 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. While the program needs to increase its numbers and Henney wants to see improvement in the weight room, Henney also hopes those leading Dolphins of the future take their cues from these Class of 2022 seniors. El Modenas Mayson Hitchens, left, gets through the San Juan Hills defense to score a touchdown in the first quarter in a non-league football game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, September 23, 2022. Its other loss also was to an undefeated team, Yorba Linda. All of the ribbing that went on between the coaches before their games became known as The Ted and Bob Show., The aura surrounding our game and the fun of the challenge will be a little lost for us, Mullen said. OCDA alleges that he initiated the 10-hour standoff with police while armed in one of the school's classrooms in April, when he was being investigated for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17- year-old student. Califf kicked another field goal, this one from 36 yards, to make it 14-6. Sign In School Page; Team Page . A client should expect nothing but excellence from me. Already have an account? For some African Americans,they inspire outrage; for others, a new sense of empowerment. "We worked. 2003 to 2010 Head Varsity football coach at Santiago of Garden Grove. Time kept rolling and the half ended. Its a good thing though weve had more Ws than Ls, he said. Both teams made mistakes on offense in the. When Edisons Dino Bell fumbled the kick-off, El Modena simply held on to the ball for the victory. Subscribe today. Snitzler is currently in custody being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. Bob is kind of a classic guy, and his resignation is a loss for Orange County football.. He put in just as many hours on the weekends, just as much work, and just as much worry. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Im a coach that believes in technique and knowledge which allows one to go out and dominate. The Vanguards stingy defense almost recorded the shutout but San Juan Hills Sullivan Land scored on a 6-yard TD run with 55 seconds left in the fourth. 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. Gardening Stuff & Plant cuttings Exchange Feb 11th Irvine Great Park. City News Service contributed to this report. Head Freshmen coach at Orange HS 1998. The drama at the school, located at 3900 block of E. Spring St., unfolded at 11 a.m. on April 23 when the Snitzler's brother -- who was inside the school with him -- called Orange police, Orange Sgt. Hes had such a good thing going with the parents and the players, its tough to see him leave.. The records--Edison (8-3), El Modena (13-1). He also had two receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. 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. Their four losses are to teams that entered this week with a combined 17-5 record. None of the 6,500 people who sat transfixed in Fred Kelly Stadium will ever forget it, either. 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. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. Doug Rozsa remembers that El Modena had been selected to finish fourth in the Century League in 1979. In his 14 years at El Rancho, Johnson had led the school to five Southern Section championship games, winning three. . Subscribe now. McWhinney, who two weeks ago was hired to replace Jerry Howell as football coach at Foothill High School, accepted his first head coaching job 20 years ago at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera. . Email at zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com. One of the Captains of 1989 CIF Finalist team with Tom Meiss as head coach. When you talk about legends, as coaches, were all legends in our own minds.. Back then the CIF-SS divisions were still geographic and league-based, and the Dolphins played in the tough Pac-5 Division. Lester, who had been the coach since the school opened in 1966, won three. Player Rating i 247Sports. Orange Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students in all academic programs and school activities. Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. And he still yells at me if I do something wrong, and still pats me on the back when I do something right.. Offensive tackle Bob Korb is an engineer, and fullback Jose Gill is a criminal investigator. The Dolphins battled. @ElModenaHS @emfb_mitchell @cespybaseball . CoachUp now makes private football coaching affordable and convenient for athletes of all ages and skill levels. When the Dolphins last sniffed playoff contention in 2019, they were fighting for a spot in Division 12. We just shot ourselves in the foot a little too often, Henney said, didnt have enough time to get our playmakers the ball in certain occasions. He always made me feel like I was part of the decision making, and kind of groomed me for the job, I think. "Our negotiators (talked) to him for several hours and finally convinced him to give himself up peacefully," Amat said. Guess rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Menu Join Team. When you had a quality quarterback like Frasco, you probably ignored some of the back-ups.. (Gibbons said his removal stemmed from incidents during a San Luis Obispo baseball tournament last spring in which three Ocean View players were suspended for violating team rules). Lesters career coaching record is 213-86-10, for a winning percentage of .706. I love our kids and the time we had together was really a lot of fun.. Los Angeles, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, With Marcus Morris sidelined, Clippers look to stabilize lineup and rotations, With their playoff lives at stake, Darvin Ham challenges Lakers effort and urgency, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row. September 29, 1979, was a strange kind of Saturday night in Orange. He specializes in football and all the aquatics but covers many different sports. College basketball: So whats the deal with Oregons new floor? 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