PHOTOS: Villa Park keeps rolling with stellar defensive effort vs. Mira Costa

Villa Park quarterback Nate Lewis gets out of trouble before dropping back to pass late in the second quarter of Friday night’s game against Mira Costa. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone.)

Before Friday night’s non-league football game, Villa Park High School Coach Dusan Ancich emphasized he needed his defense to play better.

And the Spartans defense delivered as the Spartans shut out Mira Costa 18-0 at Fred Kelly Stadium.

“I’m so proud of those guys,” said Ancich, referring to his defense. “Mira Costa is a big physical team. You know what you’re going to get with them; they’re going to run right at you, and we took them head on. Our guys were physical and tackled well. Our offense struggled to get in a rhythm tonight. We had too many penalties and too many mistakes, but it’s fixable.”

After dropping its season opener, Villa Park has won four consecutive games, improved to 4-1 and appears to be on a roll with league play beginning next week.

“Our team puts in extra work on the field and in the weight room and it’s paying off,” said Spartans running back and linebacker Dominic Ancich, who scored the Spartans first touchdown on a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter and had a second TD run nullified by a penalty. “It all starts with practice and preparation. Tonight, we had excellent communication.”

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Dominic Ancich rarely came off the field as he and defensive end Owen Aguilar had huge defensive games to lead the Spartans. He also rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries.  

Villa Park took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in nine plays and scored to take an early lead. Ancich capped the scoring drive with a one-yard TD run. However, the Spartans missed the PAT and led 6-0. The scoring march was highlighted by a 41-yard pass play from quarterback Nate Lewis to wide receiver Luvie Clark on the game’s opening play.

Villa Park missed an excellent scoring opportunity to increase its lead late in the first quarter when Lewis’ fourth down pass from the four-yard line fell incomplete in the end zone. 

The Spartans got a boost midway thru the second quarter when Lewis delivered a perfectly thrown pass over the middle to Clark who outran the Mustangs secondary to complete the 91-yard touchdown. The pass play was a career-longest TD pass and reception for both Lewis and Clark. Villa Park’s two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete and the Spartans led 12-0.

Villa Park had another scoring opportunity foiled with just over five minutes left in the half when the Spartans fumbled the ball away at the Mira Costa’s 15-yard line after a long run. Villa Park outgained Mira Costa 277-121 in the first half.

The Mustangs best scoring opportunity came in the final minute of the half, but their 29-yard field goal attempt sailed wide, and Mira Costa trailed 12-0 at the break.

Both team’s defenses stiffened in the second half. Lewis kicked a career-long 46-yard field goal in the third quarter and added a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. The Mustangs only managed to cross midfield twice in the second half and never threatened in the final 24 minutes.  

“After losing to Inglewood in the first week, we’ve now won four in a row, but we can’t get complacent,” said Lewis, who threw for 200 yards and a TD. “We have momentum going into league but it’s going to be tough. We have Yorba Linda next week.”

Clark also had a strong game for the Spartans as he caught four passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.

“Our team never gives up; we keep grinding, said Clark. “We have momentum, but we have a hard schedule going forward.”

Villa Park defeated Mira Costa for the second consecutive season after losing to the Mustangs in 2022.

Lewis has thrown 14 TD passes this season and Clark has caught six TD passes.  

Mira Costa (3-2) running back AJ McBean, who averages 107 yards per game rushing was held to 67 yards on 20 carries. The Mustangs played with their reserved quarterback, Liam Meeker, who replaced Nicolas De La Cruz who was out with an injury.

Notes:

—–Villa Park was without 2-way starter Jacob Poff who injured his shoulder in practice. According to Ancich, Poff will miss at least a week. “Jacob came down hard and injured his shoulder in practice. He’s big, long and fast and it’s a big loss. He plays offense, defense, and he’s our long snapper. He’s a Division I kid. Hopefully, we’ll have him back in a week.”

—- Mira Costa coach Don Morrow said Villa Park’s QB Lewis is a special player. “He’s a two-way player and he’s their kicker,” said Morrow, who is in his 31^st year as head coach of Mira Costa. “He’s a great talent and he’s my favorite player.”