ORANGE — Villa Park had a five-touchdown lead over Upland in the first quarter of a nonleague game Thursday night at El Modena High School.
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The Spartans led by nine touchdowns at halftime.
When the game was finally over, the Spartans, who are ranked No. 17 in Orange County, had a 77-0 victory over the Highlanders.
The point total is a school record, Spartans coach Dusan Ancich said.
After the Spartans (3-0) took a 63-0 lead at the half, the entire second half was played with a running clock and Ancich sat his starters for the half.
“Our backups played the entire second half,” Ancich said. “Even though the score was like that, we tried to be classy about it. I have a lot of respect for that team.”
Ancich also said he was pleased with the way the backups played.
“A lot of guys got to touch the ball,” he said.
Sean Byrnes, who scored a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and had a 70-yard punt return for a score, attributed the victory to a fast start, due in large part to the Spartans’ special teams along with a good week of preparation.
“Special teams is one of the strengths of our team,” Titchenal said. “The energy on this team is unbelievable and we knew coming in we have great athletes and if we get up on them early, then it’s going to be a great game. The team rallied together.”
In the game’s opening drive, Upland (0-3) was punting from its 22 when Ethan Hendrick broke through the line and blocked the punt.
The blocked punt was caught out of the air by Parker Johns, who ran it for a touchdown from one yard out.
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On the ensuing drive, the Spartans blocked another punt and this time Trevor Gorton recovered the ball on the Upland 6.
Sean Byrnes ran for a 6-yard touchdown on the next play and Villa Park took a 15-0 lead, having run one offensive play.
Quarterback Jacob Titchenal completed 10 of 11 passes for 158 yards and touchdowns, all in the first half.
Titchenal’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Byrnes gave the Spartans a 22-0 first-quarter lead, and his 14-yard scoring pass to Johns later in the quarter made the score 36-0.Over the years, the Spartans have topped 50 points multiple times.
The Spartans defeated Canyon 63-6 during the 2019 season and defeated El Modena 63-0 in 2018.
In 2017, Villa Park won consecutive games by scores of 63-0, 63-7, 56-3, 57-24 late in the regular season.
Read more Orange County scores and player stats for Thursday, Sept. 3
“We’ve had some really good teams here,” Ancich said.