Eagles favored to top Century

Barry Faulkner

After ending the school’s 10-game losing streak in the season

opener, the Estancia High football team finds itself in the unusual

position of favorite as it meets Century in a 7 p.m. nonleague road

clash Friday at Tustin High.

Coach Jay Noonan’s Eagles, who defeated favored Magnolia, 19-8, in

Week 1, are, Noonan believes, uncomfortable with shaking the underdog

label that followed them through and 0-9 campaign last year.

“We’re not going to approach this game like we’re the favorite,”

Noonan said. “We’re going to approach every game this year like we’re

the underdog. We haven’t done anything to be cocky or arrogant about.

We’re going to keep working as hard as we’ve been working or harder,

because we want to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm we generated

last week.”

The Eagles have a solid opportunity to double their victory total

against the Centurions (1-0), who are coming off a 21-6

season-opening triumph over Bolsa Grande that ended an eight-game

losing streak for Coach Marty Albert’s Orange League representative.

Century has not been to the CIF Southern Section playoffs since

1994, posting an 11-58-1 record since that time. The Centurions are

3-22 in their last 25 games, with all three wins over a Bolsa Grande

squad that has now lost 25 straight.

Estancia is looking for its third 2-0 start in the last four

seasons, but, to do so, it must combat a Century defense that was

oppressive in the opener.

Offensively, Century’s wing-T attack is keyed by junior running

backs Christian Ramirez and James Rodriguez. Ramirez carried six

times for 74 yards and one TD last week, when Rodriguez piucked up 69

yards on 10 rushing attempts. Amasio rushed 10 times for 37 yards.

Senior safety Lewis Bradshaw anchors that secondary, in addition

to triggering the split-back veer option offense at quarterback.

Bradshaw, who threw for 55 yards in the opener, also hauled in an

interception against Magnolia.

Bradshaw, however, will share time under center with junior Brad

Young, a Fountain Valley transfer who threw for 48 yards and a TD

last week, completing half of his six passes without an interception.

Estancia’s ground game, anchored by junior fullback Bubba Kapko,

is without its top three tailbacks. Junior Newport Harbor transfer

Kyle Allen (leg injury) and Bobby Estrada, a senior transfer from

Saddleback (recovering from a broken collarbone) remain sidelined.

Sophomore Geo Macias, who rushed for 41 yards on seven carries last

week, will sit out after having been ejected in the opener.

Sophomore David Moreno, who carried three times for 8 yards in his

varsity debut, will start at tailback, behind and offensive line led

by senior returning second-team all-leaguer Matt Morrell, a 6-3,

265-pound right guard.

Kapko stepped up last week to earn 81 yards on 12 rushing

attempts, including TD runs of 3 and 8 yards.

Defensively, the Eagles should be bolstered by junior Mater Dei

transfer Mike Cahill, who sat out the opener while his transfer

paperwork was being processed.

Noonan plans on starting Cahill at inside linebacker next to

junior Cullen Crom, one of several defensive standouts in theopener.

Sophomore end Bryce McKendry, who forced a fumble with his

quarterback sack and recovered a fumble created by outside linebacker

Mike Softa’s sack against Magnolia, will also provide strong

opposition for the Century offense, as should senior end Jermaine

Young.

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Directions to Tustin High

North on 55 to 5. South on 5 to first turnoff (Newport

Blvd). Left on Newport Blvd, right on El Camino Real. School at 1171

El Camino Real.