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Villa Park running back Coy Collins, right, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Lakewood with strong safety Sean Byrnes in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park receiver Ethan Hedrick, right, makes a touchdown catch as Lakewood defensive back Larry L.A. Morris tries to break it up in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park wide receiver Jr. Orta, left, outruns Lakewood’s Gregory Gibson to score a touchdown in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park running back Coy Collins crosses the goal line to score a touchdown against Lakewood in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood defensive back Jordan Montgomery, center, is stopped by Villa Park defenders in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park wide receiver Ben Hannah, left, celebrates with wide receiver Alex Samuel after Samuel’s touchdown against Lakewood in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park wide receiver Wil Cassara, front, is thrown to the ground by a Lakewood defender who is called for a personal foul in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park wide receiver Sean Byrnes, left, is lifted high by guard Seth Rice after scoring a two-point conversion against Lakewood in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood quarterback Aidan Kautsky looks for a receiver under pressure from Villa Park defenders in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood defensive back Jacob Carey is brought down by Villa Park middle linebacker Maverick Declark, bottom, and strong safety Sean Byrnes, right, in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood wide receiver Steve Orozco, right, is hit by Villa Park strong safety Wil Cassara as soon as he catches the ball in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park wide receiver Alex Samuel catches a pass in the open to score a touchdown against Lakewood in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Lakewood quarterback Aidan Kautsky, left, is sacked by Villa Park outside linebacker Ethan Hedrick in a nonleague football game in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park head coach Dusan Ancich in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park head coach Dusan Ancich talks with one of this players during in a nonleague football game against Lakewood in Orange on Thursday, September 24, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
ORANGE — Villa Park’s football team encountered an unexpected delay Thursday before playing Lakewood in a nonleague game.
A bus transporting most of the Spartans’ players to El Modena High was involved in a minor accident, Villa Park athletic director Tom Fox said. There were no injuries, Fox said, but kickoff was delayed about 30 minutes.
Villa Park then resumed its sprint toward the Bravo League.
Jacob Titchenal threw touchdowns on three consecutive passes in the first half and Jr Orta broke a 47-yard scoring run as Villa Park raced past Lakewood 51-0 at El Modena High.
“Our players did a really good job for the unique situation. Lots of distractions,” Villa Park coach Dusan Ancich said of the delay.
“We were on the bus an hour and half waiting for the (California Highway Patrol) and right when we got here, we had to warm up. We kind of scrambled. It was a Senior Night and we skipped all the announcements (until after the game).”
Titchenal said he and his teammates were chatting on the bus during the delay in eagerness to play.
“We bring the energy. We had energy on the bus,” said the sophomore, who completed all 11 of his passes for 184 yards. “We just come to play. We’re ready to play whenever.”
Villa Park (5-0), ranked No. 13 in Orange County and 60th in the state by hsratings.com, outscored its five nonleague opponents 297-40.
The Spartans’ scoring average of 59.4 points per game leads the Bravo League.
“We got a lot of things going our way,” Ancich said. “We got a good offense. A young, talented quarterback. An aggressive defense. Our kicking game is doing well. But it’s week by week. Right now, we’re feeling pretty good. We got to prepare for next week. Season 1 is over. We did our job.”
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Villa Park matched its best start since 2023. The Spartans started 7-0 that season and finished 10-2.
Villa Park opened the first quarter with a nine-play, 81-yard drive. Maverick DeClark capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Spartans’ quick-strike offense took over from there.
Late in the first quarter, Orta scored on a 47-yard touchdown run after taking a direct snap while in motion as a wide receiver. The 2-point conversion extended the lead to 15-0.
In the second quarter, Titchenal threw touchdown passes of 35 yards to Ethan Hedrick, 1 yard to Ben Hannah and 39 yards to Alex Samuel.
Hannah’s score came after an interception by Wil Cassara.
Villa Park led 37-0 at half.
Running back Coy Collins highlighted the second half with a 20-yard touchdown run. The junior finished with 109 yards on 11 carries.
Next week on Friday, Oct. 2, Villa Park opens the Bravo League against Corona del Mar (5-0) at El Modena High.
Jordan Montgomery rushed for 43 yards and Garon Harden recorded a sack for Lakewood (2-4).
Lakewood opens the Moore League against Long Beach Poly at Cabrillo High on Friday, Oct. 2.
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