Prep football: Eagles looking ahead

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - As the end nears to a season that has featured very few

breaks, Estancia High football coach Jay Noonan has broken the unofficial

coaching code.

For while Noonan has dutifully prepared his Eagles (0-7, 0-3 in the

Pacific Coast League) for tonight’s 7 o’clock PCL struggle against

University at Irvine High, he, along with his players, have already begun

looking ahead to the regular-season finale, as well as next year.

“We’re playing a lot of kids, with next year in mind and, as a staff,

we’ve already started to prepare for next year,” Noonan said.

After facing heavily favored University (5-2, 2-1 in league), the

Eagles will attempt to avoid only the second winless campaign in the

school’s 37 varsity seasons against a Laguna Beach squad that has also

lost its first three league games and faces unbeaten league-leading

Northwood Friday.

“The game against Laguna Beach could be evenly matched,” Noonan said.

Tonight’s matchup, however, provides problems for the Eagles, who have

lost a pair of senior standouts for the season due to injuries sustained

in last week’s 21-6 loss to crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

Senior Raymond Romua, who posted a team-leading 56 rushing yards last

week and has scored three touchdowns this season, will be replaced at

running back by senior Mitch Valdes.

In addition, Mario Macias, a defensive end who dislocated his hip

against Costa Mesa, will watch the final two games from the sideline.

Estancia is led by junior quarterback Lewis Bradshaw, who will also

start at free safety. He has thrown for 601 yards and eight touchdowns

this year and scored four more TDs running the ball as the trigger man in

the Eagles’ veer option.

Senior Junior Tanielu is Estancia’s leading ground gainer with 321

rushing yards on 71 attempts. He has scored three TDs.

When Bradshaw looks to the air, his favorite targets have been seniors

Jermaine Snell (15 catches for 109 yards and one TD) and Nate Harriman

(15 catches for 305 yards and one TD).

Bradshaw has completed 53 of 119 for 601 yards with four

interceptions.

Estancia’s defense will face Uni Coach Mark Cunningham’s

well-orchestrated wing T offense, keyed by versatile senior Scott

Pickett.

Pickett, a first-team All-PCL defensive back as a junior, comes in

with 1,035 rushing yards on 132 carries, He is also the team’s leading

receiver, having collected 19 receptions for 393 yards heading into last

week’s 35-6 loss to Northwood, a game many viewed as the league title

showdown.

Pickett has scored 16 touchdowns this season, 12 of those rushing.

“Pickett is a very patient, slashing runner which makes him very

dangerous,” Noonan said. “Pickett is the guy, but they also have a solid

quarterback who doesn’t make many mistakes.”

Junior Nick Gerakos is the Trojans’ quarterback. He has completed 53

of 101 for 857 yards and eight TDs this fall, with three interceptions.

University, the defending PCL champion, is ranked No. 6 in CIF

Southern Section Division IX.

Estancia leads the series, 11-7-1, but the Trojans have won the last

three years.