Prep football: Eagles serve notice

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - First-year Estancia High football coach Jay Noonan was

gratified by the determination his players showed in Thursday’s 35-12

season-opening loss to Magnolia.

But to say the Eagles didn’t quit would only be partially accurate.

“We had a couple kids after the game who told me they were quitting

their jobs, because they wanted to make more of a commitment to being at

practice,” Noonan said. “They said ‘We don’t want any more of this.’ ”

The Eagles, who came in with little varsity experience, were also

handicapped by the loss of four two-way starters, forcing them to dip

into the reserves to account for more than one-third of the lineup.

Senior transfers Nate Harriman and Jermaine Snell, expected to start

at receiver, as well as outside linebacker and cornerback, respectively,

were not available, since their transfers had not been cleared by the CIF

Southern Section.

The other two casualties were just that. Senior tackle and defensive

end Fernando Montes went down with a dislocated shoulder, while junior

Matt Morrell, a starter at offensive and defensive tackle, was felled by

a sprained ankle.

Noonan said the loss of Harriman and Snell, as well as junior Sean

Harriman, who was expected to make an impact on both sides of the ball,

was a disheartening blow.

“It kind of took some wind out of our sails,” he said. “We were

waiting for word from CIF right up until kickoff.”

Noonan said he expects the transfers, including sophomore tight

end-defensive end Tim Bates, who was also deemed unavailable, to be

cleared to play this week.

Morrell is also expected to return, while Montes is expected to miss

at least the next two weeks, according to Noonan.

Despite the depleted roster and the program’s first season-opening

loss in three seasons, Noonan said there were bright spots.

“I thought Junior Tanielu ran very well (57 yards on nine carries) and

Mitch Valdes’ touchdown (an 89-yard kickoff return to put the Eagles on

the board after Magnolia built a 27-0 lead) was very exciting,” Noonan

said. “I also liked our secondary, our wide-receiver blocking was much

better and I thought our kicking game helped us. I also thought (junior

quarterback) Lewis Bradshaw improved in some areas.”

Noonan said the play of sophomores Gary Jones, a two-way lineman, and

Nick Koreerat, who stepped in at outside linebacker for Nate Harriman,

were encouraging notes to take into Friday’s date at former Pacific Coast

League rival Aliso Niguel.

Noonan also said senior lineman Eric Sahagian showed some promise,

which will come in handy, particularly with Montes out.

“Our guys didn’t quit, they didn’t point fingers and they didn’t blame

anybody,” Noonan added. “We had a great practice Friday and our junior

varsity won.”