Eagles hope to bounce back

Barry Faulkner

During much of his first season as the Estancia High football

coach, Jay Noonan praised his players for their valiant response to

the adversity that went with an 0-9 campaign.

After winning their season opener, 19-8, over Magnolia, however,

the Eagles showed they were less than prepared for prosperity,

dropping a 35-7 verdict to Century, which collected five Estancia

turnovers without committing any.

This week, Noonan’s Eagles return to their familiar underdog role

when they host nonleague foe Katella (2-0) Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange

Coast College.

Noonan also squares off against a familiar face in sixth-year

Katella Coach Dominik Unger, for whom Noonan worked as defensive

coordinator in 1997 and ’98.

“I coached over there a couple years with Dominik and his defenses

are never flashy, but always solid,” Noonan said. “They haven’t made

mistakes and hurt themselves, and we’ll have to do the same to have a

chance to be successful.”

The Eagles have had some success on both sides of the ball,

outgaining their first two foes, 478-403, including a 199-94

advantage in passing yards.

Senior quarterback Lewis Bradshaw, who shares the job with junior

Brad Young, has thrown for 108 yards, while also rushing for 83 and

catching four passes for 38 more.

The 6-foot-3, 183-pound Bradshaw, a returning All-Newport-Mesa

performer, is the trigger man in the veer option attack.

Young, the better passer, has completed 7 of 11 for 91 yards and a

touchdown, without an interception.

Bubba Kapko, a 5-10, 195-pound junior fullback, has been the

leading rusher, compiling 124 yards and three TDs on 20 carries.

He figures to be joined in the backfield by sophomore tailback Geo

Macias, who rushed for 41 yards on seven carries against Magnolia,

before sitting out against Century.

Senior tight end Jermaine Young (five catches for 67 yards and one

TD) is the leading receiver for Estancia, which also counts upon

senior Louis Valdes Jr. (four catches for 43 yards).

The Knights, attempting to win their first three games on the

field for the first time since the 1980s (their 3-0 start in 1998

included a loss reversed by forfeit), have much more impressive

offensive numbers.

Senior running back Mike Vega, a second-team All-Empire League

selection last season, has rushed for 256 yards and three TDs,

including a 175-yard performance in the Knights’ surprising 14-7

triumph over Villa Park last week.

Senior quarterback Tony Savala, who entered the season with little

experience, has completed 18 of 37 for 259 yards, with three TDs and

three interceptions.

Savala’s passing options are usually diverse as Katella frequently

aligns three, even four receivers. Among those pass catchers is

returning first-team all-leaguer Brandon Barnes, a 6-1, 180-pound

junior. Barnes has caught five passes for 63 yards, including TD

grabs of 30 and 18 yards.

Kevin Stout is another standout receiver, having earned

second-team all-league honors as a junior. He also kicks for the

Knights and made field goals of 30 and 27 yards in the team’s 27-21

season-opening win over Garden Grove.

“They have a wide-open offense, but they are not faster than we

are,” Noonan said. “From an athletic standpoint, I think we match up

with them very well. We just need to control the ball and keep their

offense off the field.”

Noonan believes his defense, led thus far by sophomore defensive

end Bryce McKendry and senior cornerback Javy Ramirez, can be much

more effective if not put in short-field situations by lost fumbles

or interceptions. McKendry missed some early practices due to illness

this week and will not start, Noonan said.

Noonan is also hoping the see continued improvement as the Eagles

prepare for their Golden West League opener Oct. 5 against

Westminster.

Katella leads the series, 6-2, though the teams have not played

since 1997.