ORANGE — The El Modena football team used two touchdown runs by Ethan Sorenson to erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn their first victory of the season, 21-17 over Newport Harbor on Friday night.
But the victory wasn’t secured until the final play of the game.
Sailors quarterback Jake Meer led a drive that started at their own 10-yard line down to the Vanguards 29 in time for one last shot at the end zone.
El Modena wide receiver Arnol Correa, right, pulls in a pass as Newport Harbor defensive back Ethan Ambat defends in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena defensive back Aiden Sullivan, right, keeps Newport Harbor’s Glenn Baranoski from gaining more yardage after a pass catch late in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor’s Owen Baldikowski beats El Modena’s Thomas Sheehanin to make the over-the-shoulder catch to take it into the end zone for the score a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena running back Jericho West, right, breaks into the open to sprint to the end zone for a touchdown against Newport Harbor in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor running back Glenn Baranoski is stopped by El Modena offensive lineman Andrew Alvarez, right, and another defender late in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor quarterback Jake Meer looks to fire a pass against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena offensive lineman Mason Romo (51) dives ahead of Newport Harbor running back Jonah Takamori to recover a fumble in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson, bottom, muscles his way into the end zone to score a touchdown against Newport Harbor in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor quarterback Jake Meer, left, backhands the ball to Owen Baldikowski (not pictured) for a touchdown against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena defensive back Aiden Sullivan celebrates after the Vanguards held on to win their nonleague football game against Newport Harbor in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor quarterback Jake Meer, center, celebrates with Owen Baldikowski, right, they connected for a touchdown against El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson dodges Newport Harbor defenders to score a touchdown on a quarterback keeper late in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Newport Harbor wide receiver Ryan Palmer bobbles the ball but makes the catch late in the fourth quarter as they try to catch up to El Modena in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson (10) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown against Newport Harbor with teammates in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 14El Modena wide receiver Arnol Correa, right, pulls in a pass as Newport Harbor defensive back Ethan Ambat defends in the fourth quarter in a nonleague football game in Orange on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) ExpandMeer took the snap, rolled to his right and spun away from the pressure. As he headed back to the near sideline, he launched a pass into a crowd. The ball found the hands of Ryan Palmer for what appeared to be the game-winning score.
Unfortunately for Newport Harbor (1-2), Meer passed the line of scrimmage before throwing it to the end zone, drawing a penalty flag. The referees converged to discuss the call and agreed on the penalty.
Once they gave the signal, the Vanguards players and coaches celebrated the victory enthusiastically.
El Modena coach Matt Mitchell described the final play from his vantage point.
“We just saw him crossing the line and we were pointing that out.” Mitchell said. “I mean, he’s a runner and he’s a good quarterback, and we told the kids 48 minutes tonight so we definitely used every second of it tonight.”
The Vanguards (1-2) entered the fourth quarter trailing 17-6. Their defense had kept them in the game, stifling the Sailors ground game and forcing stops.
“Defense played pretty well all night.” Mitchell said. “They were explosive at receiver there. But no, our kids kept playing and stuck it out. You know, I think we made some adjustments and we put pressure on the quarterback when we needed to. The defense played hard and played with good effort all night.”
El Modena gained large chunks of yardage on their second possession of the final quarter, a 35-yard pass from Sorenson to Sam Jackett and then a 24-yard strike to Jason Ramos to the 1-yard line.
Sorenson scored on a sneak on the next play and converted the 2-point conversion to make the score 17-14 with 6:17 left to play.
The Vanguards run defense tightened up and forced a quick punt on the Sailors next drive and then Sorenson used his legs to give El Modena the lead after breaking off back-to-back runs of 22 and 40 yards, the latter being the go-ahead score.
Mitchell was proud of the way his new young team, including the starting QB, came through in the third game of the season.
“That’s what he did last year in the JV a lot,” Mitchell said of Sorenson’s dual-threat ability. “We’ve kind of been trying to figure out, you know, with a little bit of trial and error, what’s good for him and what’s not.”
“It was exciting.” Mitchell added. “We grew up a little bit.”
El Modena quarterback Ethan Sorenson scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to help the Vanguards rally to beat Newport Harbor 21-17 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by David Delgado)The Sailors opened the scoring when Meer hit Owen Baldikowski for a 4-yard TD reception in the first quarter.
Newport Harbor was looking to increase their lead after a 31-yard gain by running back Matthew Yamakawa but the Sailors had a bad snap and fumbled on their next play as it was recovered by Mason Romo.
The Vanguards took advantage of the turnover as Jericho West scored on a 36-yard TD run for the Vanguards on fourth-and-1 to make it 7-6.
Daniel Rico hit a 32-yard FG for Newport Harbor as time in the first half expired and Shane McKibbin caught a 40-yard TD pass from Meer (228 passing yards, 2 TD) to make it 17-6.
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