Football Game Preview: El Modena Vanguards vs. Capistrano Valley Cougars

The El Modena Vanguards will challenge the Capistrano Valley Cougars at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. El Modena has given up an average of 26.1 points per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

El Modena is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering Tustin just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Friday. They were beaten by the Tillers 51-7. The Vanguards were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 48-0.

Meanwhile, Capistrano Valley had already won four in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 31.3 points) and they went ahead and made it five on Friday. They took their contest with ease, bagging a 41-7 win over the Mustangs. With the Cougars ahead 28-0 at the half, the game was all but over already.

El Modena better keep an eye on Talon Spencer. He was instrumental in Capistrano Valley's win, rushing for 96 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine carries, while also throwing for 135 yards and two touchdowns while completing 76.9% of his passes. The bulk of those rushing yards came from one huge play: a run that gained an incredible 66 yards. Brody Saavedra was another key player, picking up 72 receiving yards and two scores.

Capistrano Valley's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for El Modena, their defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 4-4.

El Modena couldn't quite get it done against Capistrano Valley in their previous meeting back in October of 2024 as they fell 28-21. Thankfully for the Vanguards, Tommy Acosta (who threw for 229 yards and a pair of TDs, and also rushed for 47 yards and one touchdown) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.