Prep football: Shaping history

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Recent history will be on the minds of both teams

Friday, when Estancia High hosts Corona del Mar for a 7 p.m. Pacific

Coast League-opening football game at Newport Harbor High.

The Eagles (0-4) are hoping to erase the recent history of a winless

preleague campaign, while the Sea Kings (3-1-1), are anxious to avenge a

27-24 defeat at the hands of Estancia last fall.

CdM Coach Dick Freeman believes the memory of last year’s loss will be

sufficient to motivate his team not to take Estancia lightly this time

around. Freeman also believes there are other reasons not to look past

the Eagles.

“Everybody says ‘Poor little Estancia,’ ” Freeman said. “But if (the

Eagles) ever quit making the mistakes they’ve made offensively this year

(17 fumbles, losing six), they are going to move the football all over

the place. They run an option, so you can’t gang up on anybody. They’re

going to put it together one of these weeks, I just don’t want it to be

against us.”

Estancia Coach Jay Noonan also remains confident the Eagles are primed

for an offensive outburst.

“We have a good enough deep (passing threat) and we force teams to

guard against our veer option, so we do put pressure on teams,” Noonan

said.

Freeman said there will be pressure on his team to extend its streak

of three straight league-opening wins.

“Games just become a little more important in league,” Freeman said.

“If we want to get into the playoffs and not have to play that No. 1

seed, we better start winning some football games. We’re not good enough

to be fed to the lions.”

Noonan, on the other hand, said his team views the onset of league

play as a relief.

“I think we’re thankful to have a fresh start,” Noonan said.

“Especially as we try to move on from the (death of former Estancia

player Matt Colby).”

CdM is also looking for relief from a string of injuries that has

continually pared its depth chart. Five key players sat out last week

with injuries and two-way junior starter Kris Cooper, who has a slightly

torn knee ligament, may join that group this week. The Sea Kings must

also replace sophomore linebacker and punter Dave Simon, who unexpectedly

quit the team Monday to concentrate on his studies.

Freeman said tight end-defensive end Tyler McClellan (rib cage) and

guard-linebacker John Daley (broken wrist) could be cleared to play this

week. But neither is expected to start.

The CdM offense, averaging just more than 29 points, starts with

senior quarterback Dylan Hendy.

Hendy, whose 213 passing yards last week were the best single-game

output by a CdM passer since 1996, has completed 45 of 90 passes for 623

yards and five TDs. He has thrown four interceptions, but none in the

last two games.

His favorite target has been senior Steven Ward, who has 15 catches

for 166 yards and four TDs.

Noonan, however, acknowledges there is much more to the CdM offense

than its passing game.

“What concerns me is that they’re so balanced,” Noonan said. They have

a very good high school quarterback, but they also have a good solid

running game.”

That running game is keyed by junior Mark Cianciulli, who has 421

rushing yards and four TDs on 65 carries.

The Estancia offense has been led by junior quarterback Lewis

Bradshaw, who threw his first two TD passes last week in a 41-28 loss to

Orange. Bradshaw has completed 29 of 62 passes for 401 yards, without an

interception. He has also carried 53 times for 20 yards and one TD.

Senior Junior Tanielu is the leading rusher with 268 yards and three

TDs on 46 carries. He also has four receptions for 61 yards.

Senior Nate Harriman is the leading receiver with 11 catches for 268

yards and one TD.

Estancia has also won its last two PCL openers.

The intradistrict rivalry has several side plots.

Estancia receiver Jermaine Snell is a former Fountain Valley High

teammate of CdM receiver Matt Feinauer, as well as Hendy.

Bradshaw and teammate Matt Morrell, a lineman, are Newport Harbor

transfers familiar with the desire to beat their former Back Bay rival.

In addition, the CdM staff is stocked with former Eagle players and

coaches. Miguel Romo, Tony Naranjo and Scott Davis all played at Estancia

and Romo and Naranjo coached in the Eagle program. Secondary coach Ed

Blanton is a former Estancia head coach and athletic director, while

Freeman’s wife, Kathie, is an Eagle alumna.

CdM leads the series, 15-10-3.