Lions devour Eagles

Richard Dunn

If Estancia High’s football team could find victory in time of

possession, the Eagles would’ve been dancing in the streets Saturday

night like most Angel fans.

But visiting Westminster, the defending Golden West League

champion, showed up with unteachable speed and left the Eagles

shaking their heads following the Lions’ 41-7 league-opening win at

Newport Harbor High.

“I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage tonight, but it’s

the old adage -- you’ve either got speed or you’re chasing it,” said

Estancia Coach Jay Noonan, whose team (1-3 overall) squandered

opportunities offensively, losing three fumbles.

Westminster (2-2), which scored on the game’s opening drive and

never trailed, provided big plays on offense as senior quarterback

Fidel Gonzalez, a third-year starter, made the most of his five

completions in 11 throws.

Gonzalez threw for 206 yards, including touchdown passes of 74 and

63 yards to receivers Livingston Tautua and Parker Chamberlain,

respectively, and a 44-yard pass to running back Michael Laurel on a

play over the middle. All three plays were catch-and-run receptions

with the receivers outrunning Estancia defenders.

After the Lions built a 21-0 halftime lead, the Eagles battled

back early in the third quarter, starting with the second-half

kickoff as Geo Macias recovered his own fumble and returned it 42

yards to the Westminster 39.

After eight straight running plays, which included converting at

fourth-and-2 from the Lions’ 6-yard line, Estancia quarterback Brad

Young rolled out to his right and hit Macias on a screen for a 2-yard

touchdown pass.

The Eagles’ only scoring drive of the contest was sparked by

fullback Mike Cahill’s 15-yard burst on third-and-long from the

Westminster 21, setting up Estancia’s fourth down at the 6. Cahill

powered his way to the Lions’ 2 for the first down.

Westminster, however, scored on its second play from scrimmage on

its ensuing series, a 63-yard pass play from Gonzalez to Chamberlain

on a catch and run over the middle.

On Estancia’s third play of its next possession, Westminster

defensive back Carlos Brooks recovered a fumble and returned it 65

yards for a touchdown. Jose Cruz added the PAT and Lions enjoyed a

34-7 lead with 4:11 to play in the third quarter.

“Once we picked up that fumble and ran it back, that was (the

ballgame),” Westminster Coach Ted McMillen said.

The Lions, who gained 506 net yards, including 235 on the ground

and 206 in the air, added a fourth-quarter touchdown when backup

running back J.T. Smith sprinted 28 yards to paydirt untouched on a

sweep.

“This is the fastest overall speed we’ve had at Westminster, since

I’ve been here,” McMillen said. “We got some breaks tonight. But this

game was closer than the score indicated. Their offensive line did a

great job in the second half. We were humbled the way they moved the

ball.”

Estancia, which had a big edge in time of possession

(27:46-20:14), also controlled the football longer than the Lions in

the first half (13:02-10:58), despite losing by three touchdowns.

After an Estancia punt late in the first quarter, Westminster

scored on its first play as Brooks took a pitch right and outran the

Estancia defense, going 76 yards to the end zone.

Estancia moved the ball from its own 20 to the Lions’ 26 on a

drive lasting 3:36, but the series ended with a lost fumble.

Westminster scored again on its first play from scrimmage as

Gonzalez connected with Tautua on an out pattern for a 74-yard

touchdown pass, in which Tautua never lost his stride.

“They’re a big-play team and that hurt us,” said Noonan.