Prep football: Seeking silver lining

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The finish line is four quarters away for the high

school football teams from Estancia and Laguna Beach, which meet to avoid

landing in the PCL cellar tonight at 7 o’clock at Newport Harbor High.

“It’s kind of like a championship game for us,” said Estancia Coach

Jay Noonan, whose team is bidding to avoid only the second winless season

in the school’s 37 varsity campaigns. “No one wants to be in the cellar,

so this should be a hard-fought game.”

Laguna Beach, coached by former 20-year Corona del Mar head man Dave

Holland, was hoping to be fighting for a CIF Southern Section Division IX

playoff berth this season. But, after a 5-0 start, the Artists have lost

all four league contests.

Still, already assured their first non-losing season since 1987, a win

would secure the Artists’ first winning season since that ’87 squad went

10-2.

The Artists’ chances for victory would be increased considerably

should junior tailback Donelle Darling be able to shake off the injury

problems that sidelined him for last week’s 44-11 loss to league-leading

Northwood.

Darling, who has rushed for 1,009 yards and scored 18 touchdowns,

including 14 of the Artists’ last 16 TDs, is questionable with rib and

ankle problems.

“I spoke with Coach Holland and he said he was hoping to get him back

for this week,” Noonan said. “(Darling) obviously makes a big difference

for them.”

Without Darling, the Artists threw on virtually every down against

Northwood. Laguna’s leading rusher against the Timberwolves gained 3

yards on two carries.

But, with Darling in the backfield, the Artists have run much more

than they’ve passed.

“They have some kids who play good, tough football, but Darling is

special,” Noonan said. “He’s a very explosive running back. If you don’t

contain him, you’re chasing him.”

Estancia (0-8, 0-4) will say goodbye to eight senior starters as part

of the traditional “senior night” pregame ceremony and Noonan hopes to

send them out as winners.

“A win would be a great way to end the year and begin our offseason

program,” Noonan said. “Certainly, nobody wants to get shut out (in the

victory column).”

Estancia has avoided being shut out this season, but the defense has

surrendered a school-record 38.1 points per game, with a single-game low

of 21 against Costa Mesa.

If Darling can’t go, Estancia’s hopes would be bolstered, particularly

since Noonan has cited the play of his secondary as his defensive

strength this fall.

The Eagles have yielded just 84.8 aerial yards per game this season,

as opposed to just more than 295 per contest on the ground.

Laguna Beach senior quarterback Todd Merz has thrown seven of his 11

interceptions against league competition. He has completed 71 of 156 for

938 yards and three TDs, with just one scoring pass against PCL foes.

Estancia is led offensively by junior quarterback Lewis Bradshaw, who

has thrown for 673 yards and eight TDs and rushed for six TDs as the

trigger man in the veer option.

Senior Junior Tanielu is the leading rusher with 347 yards and he has

scored four TDs, while Snell and senior Nate Harriman are the leading

receivers with 18 and 16 catches, respectively.

Laguna Beach has lost 14 of its last 15 PCL games, but of the four PCL

games it has won on the field since 1990, three have been against

Estancia.

Estancia leads the series, 10-6.