ORANGE - Villa Park's recipe for success all season has been its versatile rushing attack and its sturdy defense.

The combination was on display Thursday night as the Spartans defeated El Modena, 35-14, to clinch the Century League's third-place playoff bid in the CIF-SS Southwest Division.

It is the first time Villa Park will play in the postseason since 2004.

"I am very proud of the team and it is great for the school," Spartans coach Dusan Ancich said. "But we do have to get more consistent."

Villa Park (7-3, 3-2) set the tone of the game on its first drive, pounding the ball with David Tafuna.

The junior running back had four carries for 74 yards on the opening possession, and scored on a 31-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

El Modena (3-7, 1-4) responded, scoring 14 consecutive points.

Running back Ryan Arballo scored on a 22-yard scamper midway through the first quarter, and added a 33-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter, giving the Vanguards a 14-7 lead.

El Modena moved the ball with ease in the first half, compiling 158 rushing yards.

Linebacker Mike Stankan and the Villa Park defense responded, stifling the Vanguards rushing attack in the second half for a total of minus-23 yards.

Stankan grabbed an interception and had two of the Spartans' eights sacks, six of which came after halftime.

Spartans quarterback Blair Boyce accounted for four touchdowns, including a 10-yard pass to Kapena Olsen with 26 seconds left in the second quarter that gave Villa Park 21-14 lead at halftime.

Tafuna finished with 113 rushing yards and Olsen added another 79. As a team, Villa Park racked up 232 yards on the ground, allowing it to control the clock and the game in the second half.