Fertig’s first step solid

Patrick Laverty

The most important game for a new coach can often be the first one. A

victory can validate all the off-season work. A loss can call into

question just that.

Craig Fertig got off on the right foot Friday in his first game as

a high school coach, guiding Estancia High to a 24-8 victory over

Magnolia.

“I think you’ve got to win the first one, especially with a team

that was 1-18 [the last two years],” Fertig said. “I don’t know if I

lost that one if I would have ever gotten them back.”

To keep the momentum going, Fertig will attempt to lead the Eagles

to their second win in a season for the first time since 2000.

There will be areas of emphasis in practice this week, leading up

to Friday’s game against Century at Orange Coast College,

particularly on special teams. But Fertig was happy with the

performance in Week 1.

Estancia rushed for 218 yards, fulfilling Fertig’s wish of

establishing a running game out of the I-formation.

“That was the game plan,” Fertig said. “We were going to run at

them and they didn’t seem to adjust.”

But the Eagles lost tailback David Moreno, who rushed for 44 yards

on eight carries and scored a touchdown, in the second quarter after

he slightly separated his left shoulder.

Moreno is expected to visit the doctor today, but is likely going

to be out for Friday’s game.

Fullback Bubba Kapko took over most of the tailback duties with

Moreno out and rushed for a career-high 160 yards.

* CORONA DEL MAR: It was fourth-and-10 at the opponents’ 20-yard

line and Corona del Mar High football Coach Dick Freeman had a

decision to make.

Trailing Costa Mesa, 14-7, with two minutes gone in the third

quarter, he could have attempted to trim the lead by turning to David

Del Fante for what would have been a 37-yard field-goal attempt.

Instead, Freeman went for the big bucks and came up a winner when

quarterback Tom Welch connected with twin brother Kevin Welch on a

20-yard fade route for a touchdown.

“[Del Fante] was right at [his] limit,” Freeman said. “Punting

wasn’t an option so we decided we might as well give it a whirl.

Heck, when you’ve got a guy like Kevin you can do that.”

The Sea Kings needed the big play since they weren’t able to

establish a running game, gaining just 36 yards on the ground.

Freeman thought Austin Brawner, Wess Presson and Brett Crowley ran

well, but the holes just weren’t there.

That could change this week with the possible return of two

injured offensive lineman. Sean Ellis has been fitted with a brace

for his rotator cuff injury and Chris Reilly, who had a knee injury,

has been cleared to play, though Freeman said the Sea Kings will take

a cautious approach.

* NEWPORT HARBOR: There was a lot to like about Newport Harbor

High’s 35-8 victory over Trabuco Hills Thursday and, after watching

the game on tape, Sailors Coach Jeff Brinkley came away happy with

his team’s early season performance.

“I like the fact that we forced turnovers,” Brinkley said. “We

certainly put the offense in a good position.

“Offensively, I liked our balance. I think we showed the ability

with Matt [Encinias] to run the ball and Kasey [Peters] threw the

ball well. I think we showed we’re going to make teams cover the

whole field.”

The defense showed a bend-but-don’t-break mentality, allowing

Trabuco Hills sophomore P.J. Vallier to rush for 127 yards, but

preventing the Mustangs from scoring on a goal-line stand in the

third quarter.

“We’d like to go three-and-out, like everyone would, but the key

to playing defense is how many points you give up,” Brinkley said.

The main sore spots were a blocked punt that resulted in a safety

and eight penalties that cost Newport Harbor 90 yards.

Brinkley said the blocked punt was the result of a missed

assignment by a Newport Harbor lineman.

The Sailors will work on cutting down on the penalties, but

Brinkley doesn’t want to that to temper their efforts.

“We’re not going to take the aggressiveness out of them,” Brinkley

said.

* COSTA MESA: The Mustangs coaching staff watched the tape from

Friday’s loss to Corona del Mar and saw their team accomplish most of

what they wanted to.

They controlled the ball, shut down the Sea Kings’ running game

and performed well on special teams, including the conversion of a

fake punt.

“We’re still trying to figure out how we lost,” Perkins said.

Costa Mesa lost because of three big plays by Sea Kings

quarterback Tom Welch. Take away his three touchdown passes and

Corona del Mar gained just 71 yards against the Mustangs defense.

The important thing for Perkins is the mistakes that Costa Mesa

made Friday can all be corrected.

“You don’t want to lose your first game, but if you learn

something from it, that’s a good thing,” Perkins said.

With a short week of preparation before taking on Huntington Beach

Thursday, the Mustangs will emphasize protecting quarterback Bruce

Wilkinson, who was sacked six times.

“Our pass protection is good or bad, instead of steady,” Perkins

said. “We need to do a better job of being more consistent.”

* SAGE HILL: Eddie Huang rushed for 187 yardsFriday and he did so

with a shoulder injury that prevented him from playing quarterback,

where he was originally scheduled to start. The injury also forced

him to play offense only after the first quarter.

“His shoulder hurts him the most on big hits,” Sage Hill Coach Tom

Monarch said. “He’s a big hitter and he doesn’t let up when he gets

back there at safety.”

Monarch said Huang will likely be limited again this week against

Calvary Chapel of Downey, with defensive play, where he earned

all-Academy League honors last season, likely out of the question.