Chance encounter

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - Estancia High football Coach Dave Perkins wants to leave

nothing to chance.

After a confidence-building come-from-behind nonleague triumph last week

over Montclair Prep, which gave the Eagles an important sixth victory in

nine games, Perkins hopes the Eagles can bypass at-large consideration

and lock up a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs with

a Pacific Coast League victory over University tonight at Irvine High.

A win in the 7 o’clock contest could also mean a share of the PCL crown,

should Costa Mesa knock off league-leading CdM Friday.

Should the Eagles lose, they could be forced to compete for the

division’s lone at-large berth. In this scenario, they could meet

challenges from potential at-large candidates Fullerton (6-4 with a win

over Troy Friday), Western (5-4-1 if it surrenders its guaranteed berth

with a loss to Savanna Friday) and Santiago (5-5 with a win Friday).

Though they have six wins, the Eagles (2-1 in league), have not been

ranked in the Division IX poll the last two weeks, after holding the No.

10 after Week 7. This could render them vulnerable to Fullerton, No. 10

this week, and No. 5 Western. Santiago is unranked.

So, it’s easy to see why Perkins would just as soon take care of business

against the Trojans (3-6, 1-2).

“It’s just exciting to be in position to go to the playoffs,” said

Perkins, hoping to lead the Eagles to their first postseason since 1995.

It would be the school’s second playoff trip in the 1990s.

“Last week was a huge confidence builder for the kids and we came out of

it healthy. Hopefully, that confidence will carry over to this week.”

Perkins, however, is leery of complacency, which has helped deny his team

victory twice, against projected underdogs Anaheim and Corona del Mar.

“Sometimes we forget to show up,” said Perkins, who noted overcoaching

may have had something to do with the 9-0 setback against CdM.

“We went away from some of the things we’d been doing well and maybe our

kids were uncomfortable doing some things we asked them to do against

Corona del Mar. Last week, we went back to basics, back to the things

which made us successful the first three weeks (all victories).”

Those basics include an explosive ground attack, keyed by senior Marshall

Hendricks, as well as a solid defense.

Hendricks has amassed 1,379 rushing yards on 180 carries, leaving him

just 95 short of breaking James Dawkins’ single-season record set in

1996.

Hendricks, who also starts at cornerback, has contributed eight of the

Eagles’ 19 interceptions, helping fuel a plus-eight turnover ratio.

Additional defensive stalwarts include middle linebacker Matt Mueller,

flex ‘backers Fahad Jahid and Cesar Romero, ends David Rodriguez and Kyle

Westman, and safety Freddy Rodriguez.

The Eagles’ strength against the pass, including 12 sacks, should come in

handy against University quarterback Pat Josten.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior has thrown for 1,221 yards and 13

touchdowns, completing 88 of 165 with seven interceptions. He needs just

19 yards to surpass the school single-season passing record set by Mike

O’Laughlin in 1972.

The Trojans, who, like the Eagles, run the wing T, are fueled by fullback

Jacque Newsome and wingback Colin Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh was first-team All-PCL as a junior, but Newsome has been the

featured weapon of late. He had 109 yards on 14 attempts last week in a

31-12 loss to CdM, after collecting 110 yards on 18 carries in a 12-10

win over Laguna Beach.

Estancia leads the series, 11-5-1.