SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION III : Garcia Leads El Modena, 27-14

The El Modena High School football team used several big plays to beat host Capistrano Valley, 27-14, in the first round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs Friday night.

The Vanguards (6-5) will play Dominguez in the quarterfinals at a site to be determined.

Quarterback Adam Garcia teamed with Trey Frank for 2 long scoring passes for the Vanguards, and tight end Chris Fisher blocked a punt and recovered in the end zone for another score.

El Modena built a 20-7 halftime lead which went to 27-7 before Capistrano Valley scored late in the game.

Kicker Tim Hatcher opened El Modena’s scoring with a 37-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. Just before the quarter ended, Garcia hit Frank on a 52-yard scoring pass.

Fisher gave the Vanguards a 17-0 lead when he blocked a punt and recovered in the end zone.

Capistrano Valley (6-5) came back with a big play of its own, a 39-yard pass from quarterback Tony Solliday to Toney Jenkins to cut the lead to 10 points. But Hatcher kicked a 27-yard field goal just before halftime. That score was set up by a 43-yard pass from Garcia to Fisher.

In the fourth quarter, Garcia threw a 55-yard scoring pass to Frank for a 27-7 lead. Solliday hit Doug Bame with a 12-yard touchdown pass late in the game for the Cougars’ final score.

Garcia completed 8 of 11 passes for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns. Frank caught 4 passes for 147 yards.