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El Modena’s Aiden Sullivan, right, stops Trabuco Hills running back Luke Hoffman in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. Hoffman was called for hurdling on the play. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills running back Luke Hoffman is hit by El Modena’s Mason Romo, left, and Hayden Esparza, right, in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills running back Luke Hoffman, center, tries to get past El Modena’s Daniel Mendez (21) in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke does all he can to stay in bounds as he runs down the sideline on a quarterback keeper against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena’s Nathan de la Vega, right, is congratulated by El Modena’s Immanuel Jackett after scoring a touchdown against Trabuco Hills in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills running back Luke Hoffman, right, recovers the fumble the fumble by Beckham Nolan (not pictured) to score the touchdown against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson fires a pass as Trabuco Hills defensive end Zachary Taylor moves in during a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena’s Ethan Sorenson picks up some yardage against the Trabuco Hills defense in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills tight end Dillan Olson, left, reaches to catch a deflected pass against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills running back Luke Hoffman, left, is wrapped up by El Modena’s Adrian Martinez in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena’s Hayden Esparza gains yardage as he runs down the side line in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena’s Nathan de la Vega pulls along Trabuco Hills free safety Riley Overman into the end zone as he scores a touchdown in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Beckham Nolan, bottom, fumbles the ball as he is hit by El Modena’s Thomas Sheehan crossing the goal line in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. The ball was recovered up by a teammate to score the touchdown. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke is sacked by El Modena’s Walker Duff, right, in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Nate Davis is brought down by El Modena’s Aiden Sullivan, left, and a teammate on a pass play in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
El Modena’s Aiden Sullivan goes out of bounds just before crossing the goal line but sets up a touchdown against Trabuco Hills in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, September 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
ORANGE — A matchup built from a former league alliance brought El Modena and Trabuco Hills back together Friday for a clash of teams ranked in the Orange County Top 25.
A quality win and much-needed momentum for a new league adventure awaited the winner.
The Vanguards seized those rewards by defeating the visiting Mustangs 20-17 on a game-winning, 32-yard field goal by Alejandro Teran Martinez with five seconds left in the fourth quarter at El Modena High.
El Modena (5-0), ranked No. 23 in Orange County, drove from its 18-yard line in the final 6:50 of the fourth quarter for an emotional victory.
The Vanguard lost running back Nathan De La Vega to an injury in the middle of the third quarter.
Before the game, a moment of silence was held for legendary, former El Modena football coach Bob Lester, who recently died.
“The last five weeks we’ve been growing and getting better each week,” El Modena coach Matt Mitchell said. “Offensively, defensively, we’re playing well. I think we’re ready for the Delta League. It’s going to be a challenge, top to bottom. Look forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”
Mitchell added one of Lester’s catchphrases to describe his team, “We definitely ran with the wind tonight.”
El Modena rushed for 259 yards behind offensive linemen Immanuel Jackett, Aiden MacIas, Robert Rocha, Gavin Spargur and Lucas Garcia.
De La Vega rushed for a season-high 103 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries.
Dual-threat QB Ethan Sorenson gained one of the most important first downs for El Modena. On the final drive, the senior had a 2-yard run on a fourth-and-1 from the Trabuco Hills 49 with just under four minutes left.
Later in the drive, No. 22 Trabuco Hills (3-2) called a timeout before Martinez attempted a game-winning 37-yard field goal. A penalty against the Mustangs moved the ball 5 yards closer.
“I just imagined it as if it was a regular practice,” said Martinez, a soccer player who also kicked a field goal in the first half. “This is what I come here to do.”
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Mr. Clutch … Alejandro Teran Martinez, junior kicked a game-winning, 32yd FG w/ five seconds left in a 20-17 win v Trabuco Hills @elmodenafb @ElModenaHS @ElmoHSAthletics @elmodenasoccer @elmodenavoice pic.twitter.com/y5pvofiqMw
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 26, 2026
Trabuco Hills tied the score 10-10 early in the third quarter by capitalizing on a turnover. Andrew Davis III recovered a fumble at the El Modena 22 that led to a score-tying, 24-yard field goal by Owen Bailey.
The teams then trades long scoring drives.
Sorenson punctuated an 81-yard drive early with a 1-yard TD run early in the fourth.
Trabuco Hills responded an 82-yard scoring march capped with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Verplancke to Beckham Nolan. The Mustangs tied the score 17-17 with 6:50 left.
As members of the Delta League, El Modena went 2-0 against Trabuco Hills the past two seasons.
El Modena led 10-7 at halftime following a pivotal play late in the second quarter.
On a fourth-and-6 from the Trabuco Hills 27, Sorenson completed a pass to Thomas Sheehan near the 7. Sheehan pushed toward the end zone on the play but Trabuco Hills recovered a fumble for a touchback with 1:08 left.
The Mustangs’ takeaway prevented El Modena from extending its lead.
El Modena took a 7-0 lead by pounding out an 11-play, 66-yard scoring drive in the first quarter. De La Vega capped the march with a 10-yard touchdown run.
A 34-yard field goal by Martinez early in the second quarter pushed the lead to 10-0.
Trabuco Hills answered with its best possession of the first half. The Mustangs drove 76 yards for a 3-yard touchdown pass from Verplancke to Nolan on third-and-goal.
Next week on Friday, Oct. 2, Trabuco Hills begins the Epsilon League by playing host to Brea Olinda (4-1).
El Modena opens the new-look Delta League on Friday, Oct. 2 at No. 10 Huntington Beach (5-0).
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