PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran powers past El Modena for fourth straight victory

Crean Lutheran junior quarterback Caden Jones picks up a first down on a quarterback sneak and extends a second quarter drive for the Saints against El Modena. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Crean Lutheran’s high-powered offense and stingy defense kept the early season momentum rolling along as the Saints cruised to a 34-0 non-league football victory over El Modena Friday night at Fred Kelly Stadium.

The Saints (4-0) won their fourth consecutive game and are averaging 32 points per game on offense and limiting opponents to under 10 points per contest.

Crean Lutheran quarterback Caden Jones completed 27 passes for 301 yards and three TD passes. The Saints defense, led by Aaron Nicasio, Ryder Barnes, Mark Ricks and James Carrington forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks. Crean Lutheran has allowed just two touchdowns this season.

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“We’re 4-0 but we are killing ourselves with penalties,” said Jones. “By game four in the season we should be past that. We need to pick it up. We’re good but we need to improve.”    

Following a scoreless first quarter, the Saints erupted for three touchdowns within a span of five minutes of the second quarter to break the game open.

Early in the second quarter, running back Cole Ocana broke free and raced down the sidelines for a 52-yard touchdown run to give the Saints a 7-0 lead.

“It felt great, and I know I couldn’t have done it without the Grace of God,” said Ocana. “It helped us pick up momentum because on the next series the defense held them, and we went on to score again. I feel we are going to go all the way this season.”

Moments after Ocana’s touchdown, Taiga Takada returned an El Modena punt 55 yards to the Vanguards 10-yard line that turned the tide of the game. One play later, Jones tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mateo Munoz. The snap on the PAT sailed over the holder’s head and the Saints had to settle for a 13-0 lead with 5:37 remaining in the half.

“When I first went to catch the ball I dropped it, and then I picked it up and broke to the outside and it was wide open and I believe in my speed; I thought I was going to score,” said Takada, who also caught six passes for 81 yards and a TD reception in the fourth quarter.

The Saints’ defense came up with a crucial turnover on the Vanguards ensuing possession that led to another touchdown. Defensive back Evan Mack picked off a El Modena pass at the Vanguard 11-yard line. Five plays later, Dillon Booth barreled into the end zone on a one-yard TD run. Crean Lutheran added a two-point conversion and took a 21-0 lead into the locker room.

Booth and Takada were virtually unstoppable as they combined to catch 15 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

The Vanguards best drive came late in the half when El Modena (1-3) drove to the Saints 27-yard line. However, the Crean Lutheran defense rose to the occasion again and foiled the El Modena drive. Nicasio, Barnes, Ricks, and Carrington combined to sack Vanguards quarterback Ethan Sorensen on three consecutive plays to halt El Modena’s march.

“It starts with the defensive line,” said Oklahoma commit defensive end James Carrington. “We got after it on every play. Our linebackers and D-backs played well, and it was a great effort.”

Saints Coach Rick Curtis was pleased with the team’s performance.

“Caden is a dual threat,” said Curtis. “Last season he had a serious knee injury in September, and he was back playing basketball by January. He’s a solid kid and he’s our go-to guy. Our defense is really good and played well, as did our special teams and offense. We’ll go back and look at the film and concentrate on cleaning up the areas that need improvement.”

El Modena Coach Matt Mitchell said his team will continue to improve.

“We are very young; I think we start five seniors,” said Mitchell, who is in his 10^th season as the Vanguards head coach. “But these kids never quit, and they compete. Tonight, we didn’t make the big plays when we needed to.”

El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson passed for 134 yards and wide receiver James Russell caught four passes for 76 yards to lead the Vanguards.

NOTES:

—Last week, Saints coach Rick Curtis was pitted against his son, Sean, the coach at Capo Valley for the first time in a regular season game. Crean Lutheran won the game 23-6 and the elder Curtis said, “It was stressful. My son and I usually talk several times during the week to compare notes but last week we only texted a few times, that’s the part I didn’t like, but we’re both competitive. My son mixed up his tendencies last week, they passed when they normally run and ran when they normally pass. Capo pulled a trick play on the first play of the game, and they got away from all their tendencies. In a couple of years, we’ll be able to sit around and enjoy the memories.”  

—Next Thursday El Modena travels to Sofi Stadium to play San Pedro. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. (the game was originally scheduled for Friday but moved to Thursday). 

—Friday evening was the City of Orange’s “Feeder School Night” at Fred Kelly Stadium. All the local elementary school students were invited to attend the game. At halftime, the elementary school cheerleaders performed.  

—Following the game, the Crean Lutheran players and coaches serenaded RB/LB Aaron Nicasio and assistant coach Ryan Porter by singing happy birthday to them.