Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Villa Park football coach Dusan Ancich says he has “absolutely the youngest” roster of his 18-year tenure leading the Spartans. But inexperience is not what the veteran coach sees now.
He notes the maturity and program-first attitude of his players.
“I love football to see kids go from a boy to man,” Ancich said on Monday. “I’m not a recruiter. I’m a program guy. You come to Villa Park, you buy into Villa Park. We don’t buy into you.”
“I still believe in the words loyalty and hard work,” the coach added. “The maturity thing has been very drastic this year.”
Villa Park (8-4) aims to continue its growth Friday against San Jacinto (9-3) in the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals. Kickoff at El Modena High is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Playing in their first semifinal since 2018, the Spartans could start three seniors on offense and three on defense. The rest of the spots belong to mostly sophomores and a few juniors.
Villa Park finished fourth on the field in the challenging Bravo League but has raised its level of play in the postseason.
Seeded 13th in Division 4, Villa Park has defeated previously undefeated and No. 4 Westlake 28-24 and Great Oak 30-6.
Ancich said his team has lessened its “self-destructive” tendencies as a “young and inexperienced” group.
“We’ve definitely gotten better every week,” he said. “I feel we’re peaking at the right time. (But) there’s still a lot of stuff we can (improve).”
Much of the young talent comes from a strong freshman program that has piled up victories in recent seasons.
The cast of sophomore starters include running back Coy Collins, outside linebackers Parker Johns and Ethan Hedrick, cornerbacks Alex Samuel and Devin Brown, center Eddie Martinez and defensive linemen Turner Hughes and Jayden Bracamontes.
Collins (Cypress) and Brown (Servite) are transfers.
Villa Park features several juniors who are first-year starters. That group includes offensive guard Jayden Sambrano, offensive tackles Ryan Bell and Marco Valente, defensive lineman Sebastian Hamblet and kicker/punter Dalton Lang.
The defense would have had an experienced junior lineman in George Martian but he suffered a knee injury, Ancich said.
The junior class also includes quarterback Matt Smith (Loyola) and wide receiver Ben Hanna (Servite), two transfers who observed the sitout period.
The Spartans have even played three freshmen in QB Jacob Titchenal, linebacker Carsten Rasmussen and Donovyn Scott.
“They’re not afraid of the moment even though they are young,” said Ancich, who praised Titchenal for starting against Newport Harbor in a league win.
While the younger players have progressed, Villa Park’s seniors and returning starters have been important.
Ancich points to players such as senior wide receiver/defensive back Luvie Clark, senior safety Cooper Nagele, junior linebacker Maverick DeClark, junior safety Sean Byrnes, senior offensive lineman Uriel Olivares and senior athlete Vince LaGatta.
Nagele is a transfer from El Modena and related to Samuel.
Ancich cites LaGatta as an example of a “true Villa Park guy.”
He started the season as the starting quarterback and shifted to running back, wide receiver and tight end before being slowed by an ankle injury against Westlake.
“He’ll do anything for the team,” Ancich said of LaGatta. “That dude is all heart and desire.”
Ancich knows about the grind. He learned football under legendary high school coach Marijon Ancich, his late father who led St. Paul and Tustin. He also finds inspiration from his mother Jacquie, who still attends games.
“It’s exciting,” Ancich said of the playoff run. “We have to play our best game (Friday).”
SHORT ROUTES
If the season ended today, Villa Park would remain in the Bravo League for the 2026-27 releaguing cycle. The league would include Crean Lutheran, Corona del Mar, Tustin, La Habra and Capistrano Valley. …
There are 15 O.C. teams in the semifinals Friday. …
Defending Division 3 champion Edison (7-5) carries an eight-game, postseason winning steak into a clash at Palos Verdes (9-3). Palos Verdes, led by former O.C. coach Guy Gardner, captured Division 5 last season. Edison edged Palos Verdes 21-20 earlier this season on a blocked field goal. …
In Division 8, Beckman (9-3) rides an eight-game winning streak into its semifinal against Palm Desert (9-3) at Tustin High. …
Santa Margarita (8-3) enters its Division 1 semifinal against Orange Lutheran (3-8) ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports for the first time. The Eagles also have their most wins since 2012 …
All-County defensive back Khalil Terry of Tustin, a junior, has committed Notre Dame.