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.
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