Construction zone

Barry Faulkner

GARDEN GROVE - Estancia High football coach Dave Perkins and

several assistants spent Sunday replacing the players’ small metal

lockers with roomier, three-sided wooden stalls one might find in a

collegiate or professional locker room.

But, after requiring only two games to double the school’s 1998 win

total, a refurbished team room clearly ranks second to the rebuilding

effort Perkins and his Eagles have fostered on the field.

Estancia (2-0) will try to continue its impressive reconstruction Friday

at Garden Grove High against the host Argonauts (1-1). Kickoff is 7 p.m.

But while optimism is as pungent at Estancia as the smell of fresh

lumber, Perkins said his players have not gotten carried away with their

early prosperity.

“The bus ride home (after a 20-7 triumph over Westminster Friday) was

pretty subdued,” Perkins said. “We had a junior varsity game Saturday and

the varsity kids showed up, lifted for an hour, then ran 20 40-yard

sprints. It’s great when the coaches don’t have to motivate the kids to

work hard.”

Perkins said some team-wide fatigue experienced against Westminster also

prompted his players to request the resumption of hill runs, which they

endured during two-a-days.

“The kids didn’t feel like they played that well,” Perkins said. “And,

after looking at the videotape, I think we all see room for improvement.”

Improvement has been the goal for third-year Garden Grove Coach Kris Van

Hook, whose 3-7 campaign last fall included a 24-7 win over the Eagles.

“They’re vastly improved,” Perkins said of the Argos, who handled El

Modena, 33-14, in their opener, before falling, 40-26, to Ocean View last

week. “I think, in that way, they’re on the same path we are.”

Leading the Eagles down that path has been senior Marshall Hendricks, who

has shone on both sides of the ball.

At running back, Hendricks has rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns

on 26 carries, including scoring runs of 52, 43 and 21 yards. He has also

averaged 22.5 yards on two receptions and, including returns, has amassed

441 all-purpose yards.

At cornerback, he leads Orange County with four interceptions and

returned one 75 yards for a TD.

Hendricks has received rushing help from fullbacks Matt Mueller (155

yards on 14 carries) and Fahad Jahid (81 yards and two TDs).

Estancia’s junior quarterback rotation of starter Jeremy Valdes and

returning second-team All-Pacific Coast League performer Kenny Valbuena

has combined for nine completions and 152 aerial yards.

Defense, however, has been the story for Estancia, which surrendered its

only touchdown with 2:04 left against Westminster. The Eagles share the

county lead in scoring defense with three other schools and have forced

eight turnovers, while committing none.

Ends Kyle Westman and David Rodriguez, nose Josh Veach, linebackers

Mueller, Jahid, Cesar Romero, Andy Romo and Sean Freeman, and the

starting secondary of Hendricks, John Alderete and Freddy Rodriguez will

attempt to limit a Garden Grove offense with several weapons.

Grove’s Bryan Loken has 155 rushing yards and two TDs on 21 carries,

while Lui Ioane has seven receptions for 159 yards and a TD.

Junior Keo Sutherland has thrown for 156 yards (7 for 13 with no

interceptions), sharing time with senior Matt Crippen and 6-foot,

245-pound senior Eddie Vailolo (nine carries for 53 yards last week) adds

a punishing backfield presence.

Senior linebacker Junior Diaz (6-2, 240) and fellow second-team

All-Garden Grove League returner Miguel Medina, who operates in the

secondary, lead the defense for the Argos.

Estancia is attempting to open the season 3-0 for the ninth time in its

35 varsity seasons. Each school has a win in their two previous meetings.