Eagles doubled up by University

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Penalties and the visitors’ side of the scoreboard had

way too many numbers piled up for Estancia High football coach Dave

Perkins in Friday’s 42-21 Pacific Coast League loss to University at

Orange Coast College.

“That was the first time in a long, long time that I remember our team

getting that many penalties,” Perkins said, referring to the 118 yards of

infractions on 12 penalties. “Our players were saying that Uni was

chipping off at us and they were retaliating. We have to be more

disciplined than that because the referees are always going to see the

second guy on a penalty.”

Those infractions helped the Trojans (5-2, 2-0 in league) move down

the field, where they found the end zone with great frequency.

Quarterback Jay Nichols threw for two touchdowns and rushed for

another, while fullback Nephi Wheeler rushed for two more touchdowns.

“We had University on third down a number of times and we couldn’t

come up with the big stop,” Perkins said. “Either they would find the

open man, or we would miss a tackle or a penalty would keep the drive

going.”

The loss sends the Eagles (4-3, 1-1) into the middle of the PCL pack,

but with three league games remaining, Perkins is still very optimistic.

“We’re moving the ball real well,” Perkins said. “Nobody has been able

to stop our offense lately. We just have to do a better job on defense

and we have to score when we get the opportunity.”

University’s first scoring opportunity came before the echo of the

kickoff whistle had left the stadium. A 53-yard kickoff return, followed

by a roughing the passer penalty led to an 18-yard touchdown run by

Wheeler and it was 7-0, Uni, after 23 seconds of action.

Senior Jeremy Valdes gave the momentum back to Estancia with an

interception, giving the Eagles the ball on the Trojans’ 25-yard line.

Five plays later, Andy Romo ran into the end zone from a yard out and

the game was tied, 7-7. Romo had 72 yards with two touchdowns on 15

carries, while fullback Fahad Jahid added 76 yards on 14 carries.

Uni marched back to regain the lead on its next possession. A 26-yard

touchdown run by Nichols made it, 14-7.

The Eagles had a shot to regain momentum when Danny Valbuena recovered

a Trojans’ fumble on the Eagles’ 10-yard line, ending a Uni scoring

opportunity.

The Eagles used a fake punt to help themselves drive 87 yards down to

the Trojans’ 3-yard line, but on fourth down, a fake field goal attempt

was unsuccessful.

“I think that was the turning point of the game for us,” Perkins said.

“We marched all that way down the field and got nothing out of it.

University took the ball on its own 3 and scored nine plays later on a

42-yard touchdown strike from Nichols to Scott Pickett late in the second

quarter, making it, 21-7.

Following the halftime homecoming show and another University

touchdown, Freddy Rodriguez helped the Eagles cut into the Trojans’ lead.

Rodriguez pulled down a Kenny Valbuena pass in between two Trojan

defenders in the end zone and the lead was cut to, 28-14. Valbuena was 11-of-14 passing for 134 yards, including that touchdown strike.

Wheeler ended any hopes of an Eagles’ comeback with a 61-yard

touchdown run, extending the Trojans’ lead to, 34-14.

Romo would score again from a yard out, but it was too little, too

late.

Perkins’ fire got a little hotter late in the fourth quarter when

University went for two points following a touchdown with the game well

in hand.

“They’re up three scores with three minutes left in the game and

they’re going for two?” Perkins wondered aloud. “The University coach

said their holder was injured. University has 2,600 students enrolled,

they had players from the JV and frosh-soph team dressed for the game and

they couldn’t find any holders? I find that very interesting.

“Not to take anything away from the Trojans,” Perkins continued.

“They’re a heck of a football team. It was just too bad the game had to

end like that.”

Despite the loss, the PCL race is still anyone’s to win, according to

Perkins. “I still think we’re very much in control of our own destiny,”

Perkins said.

Up next for the Eagles is crosstown nemesis Costa Mesa on Friday at

Newport Harbor High.

“If we can get on the bus and not get a penalty thrown against us,

that will be a good start,” the ever-colorful Perkins said. “Then, we’ll

try to get off the bus without getting hurt.”