CENTURY LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Villa Park Defense Tops Canyon

ORANGE â€”  Villa Park’s 14-10 victory over Canyon featured a hard-hitting defense, which held the Comanches to minus-25 yards rushing, and wide receiver Sean Adams, who caught five passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

Those were the on-field highlights.

However, there were plenty of strange sights off the field in Thursday’s Century League football game at El Modena High.

Canyon wide receiver Greg Jacobs, who led the county in receptions heading into this week, warmed up with his teammates in uniform, but watched the game in street clothes because of an ankle injury he suffered last week.

Villa Park’s Franklin Haynes, the team’s leading rusher who gained 198 yards in a 14-0 victory over Orange last week, also did not play.

“He’s suspended,� Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney said. “It’s a school matter.� Mahoney wouldn’t further comment on the matter.

Mahoney’s counterpart, Canyon Coach Bob Hughes, watched the game from the stands behind the Canyon bench. He was suspended for two games by Century League officials.

Still, Canyon (6-3, 2-2 in league) played well defensively, forcing three turnovers. The Comanches held Villa Park (8-1, 3-1) to 29 yards rushing in the first half.

But the Canyon offense sputtered, although quarterback Adam Hoover completed 16 of 25 passes for 210 yards. Hoover connected with Tim Tynan for a 32-yard touchdown pass to put Canyon ahead, 10-7, with 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

But Villa Park’s Sam Bell and Chris Stremick each intercepted one pass and the Spartans sacked Hoover five times.

Villa Park quarterback Sean McMahon, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 177 yards with one interception, tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Adams with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Spartans a 7-3 halftime lead.

Adams caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Villa Park a 14-10 lead.