Estancia squares off against Orange

Barry Faulkner

The defense that gathers no Moss, doesn’t stand much of a chance

against the Orange High football team. However, containing senior

running back Durrell Moss isn’t the only task facing Estancia when

the Eagles host the Panthers Friday at 7 p.m. in a Golden West League

contest at Orange Coast College.

Moss, who has committed to play next season at Washington, has

1,132 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season, 2,914 yards and 28

TDs the last two.

But junior Justin Jones has produced 571 rushing yards and seven

TDs, and junior quarterback Mitch Eaton has produced 265 of his 386

passing yards on six touchdown passes.

“It’s a very dangerous offense,” said Estancia Coach Jay Noonan,

whose Eagles (1-6, 0-4 in league) have had little offensive success

this fall.

Only two teams in Orange County have scored fewer points than

Estancia’s 47, a total 198 shy of Orange’s output.

The Panthers (4-3, 2-1) are trying to remain in the league title

hunt, despite a 27-21 loss to Costa Mesa on the same OCC field, Oct.

18.

Friday’s game, as was the case when Orange met Costa Mesa, will

feature homecoming festivities. And the Eagles may need the extended

halftime to nurse the bruises typically created by Orange’s

smashmouth double-wing offense.

“Their offense presents a very unique challenge,” said Noonan, who

saw Orange amass 311 rushing yards in a 41-28 nonleague loss to the

Panthers last season.

Noonan said he will utilize a goal-line defensive look that will

start with a base of five defensive linemen.

Moss had 238 yards and four TDs against the Eagles last season.

Estancia’s defense will be handicapped by the loss of standout

sophomore end Bryce McKendry, who will miss the remainder of the

season after sustaining a broken kneecap in last week’s 41-0 loss to

crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

“It’s a big loss,” Noonan said of McKendry, who was among the

Eagles top playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

Offensively, Estancia has had its greatest success throwing the

ball, with junior quarterback Brad Young triggering the attack.

Young, who has split time with senior Lewis Bradshaw, has thrown for

534 yards, completing 54 of 102 with two touchdowns and four

interceptions.

Bradshaw, who plays receiver when not under center, has thrown for

191 yards and one TD.

Senior Javy Ramirez is the Eagles’ leading receiver with 16

catches for 211 yards.

Junior fullback Bubba Kapko paces the Estancia running game with

250 yards and four TDs on 57 carries.

The Eagles, who have lost 15 of their last 16 and have dropped

their last nine league games, enter the game minus-16 in turnover

ratio.

Orange Coach Greg Gibson, who was a defensive lineman at Orange

Coast, was an assistant coach at Estancia and did his

student-teaching at the school.