Uneven ground

Barry Faulkner

On the surface, the only thing equal about Saturday’s 7 p.m.

Golden West League-opening football matchup between Estancia High and

visiting Westminster would appear to be the two teams’ records.

Estancia Coach Jay Noonan acknowledges his Eagles (1-2) will enter

Newport Harbor High’s stadium as the clear underdog against the

defending league champion Lions (1-2), who were picked to win the

league in a preseason coaches’ poll.

“They played two good, solid teams in Pacifica (2-1 and ranked No.

6 in CIF Southern Section Division IX) and El Modena (2-1 and No. 5

in CIF Division VI),” Noonan said. “I think (Westminster Coach Ted

McMillen) would agree they were overmatched in those two games (both

losses by a combined score of 77-14).”

Estancia was also trounced last week, 34-0, by an unbeaten Katella

squad ranked No. 9 in CIF Division VI this week, after splitting

against lesser foes Magnolia (a 19-8 season-opening win) and Century

(a 35-7 loss in Week 2).

Estancia is further handicapped by injury as senior returning

standout Lewis Bradshaw will not play any quarterback and is expected

to be held out on defense after spraining a shoulder against Katella.

“The good news is, he could play this week,” Noonan said. “But he

won’t play quarterback for at least two weeks and we plan to let him

play wide receiver only, if he does play this week.”

Bradshaw had been sharing quarterback chores with junior Brad

Young, who went the distance against Katella and will be expected to

do the same this week. Young has completed 16 of 32 passes for 151

yards and one touchdown. But, with minus-35 yards on 20 rushing

attempts, he has not been as effective as Bradshaw triggering the

split-veer option.

After collecting just 15 rushing yards against Katella, the Eagles

are averaging just 98 yards per game on the ground. They have also

fumbled 13 times, losing eight, to help account for a minus-seven

turnover ratio.

Estancia’s running game could be bolstered by the return of senior

tailback Bobby Estrada, a Saddleback transfer who has missed the

first three games while recovering from a broken collar bone. Estrada

is expected to start, Noonan said.

Junior fullback Bubba Kapko leads the Eagles in rushing with 129

yards and three TDs on 22 carries.

Westminster’s team statistics reflect its two lopsided losses,

which followed a 15-13 season-opening victory over Rancho Alamitos.

The Lions have been more successful with the pass than the run,

which is not surprising given the presence of three-year starting

quarterback Fidel Gonzalez. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior has

completed 29 of 61 for 357 yards and two TDs to up his career totals

to 219 for 447 for 3,336 yards and 21 TDs. His four interceptions

this season, however, give him 32 for his varsity career.

“He likes to throw the ball down the field,” Noonan said of

Gonzalez. “But, from a defensive standpoint, we believe our secondary

is one of our strengths. One thing we need to do a better job of,

which we didn’t do against Katella, is create a pass rush.”

Senior Louis Valdes Jr., who had a interception while filling in

for Bradshaw at free safety last week, will be asked to defend the

deep ball, along with starting cornerbacks Geo Macias and Marco

Villalvazo. Senior Javy Ramirez, who has started at corner, will see

only spot duty after suffering a bruised back against Katella.

Gonzalez’s favorite receiver has been versatile senior Chris Renk

(10 catches for 163 yards). Sophomore Jason Morse and junior

Livingston Tautua also have five receptions apiece.

Sophomore Carlos Brooks (24 carries for 201 yards) has been the

Lions’ leading ground gainer, but he carried just once last week.

Mike Laurel, a 5-5 junior, is another rushing threat with 82 yards

on 28 carries.

Kevin Delahoussaye, a 5-11, 165-pound senior linebacker, was an

All-CIF performer for the Lions last season, when they went 4-0

against Golden West League competition, including a 42-41 upset of

Tustin in the league opener.

Estancia, which has won two of its last three league openers, has

split its two previous nonleague meetings with Westminster.