Estancia takes on potent Panthers

Patrick Laverty

For the third straight year and the seventh time in eight seasons,

Estancia High’s football team will not make the CIF Southern Section

playoffs.

But no one expected a dramatic one-year turnaround when Craig

Fertig took over the program a year ago and a win in one of the

Eagles’ final two games would give Estancia (3-5, 1-4 in Golden West

League play) four victories for only the third time in the last six

seasons.

Easier said when done, though, when Estancia’s final two opponents

are Orange (7-1, 4-0) and nonleague foe Pacifica (5-3). The Eagles

play the Panthers to close out their league schedule Friday at 7 p.m.

at El Modena High.

Orange, tied for first place with Westminster and ranked second in

Division VII, has built itself into one of the top rushing teams in

Orange County with the use of the double-wing offense.

Fertig has played and coached against the double wing for many

years and he knows one way to stop it.

“Make them throw the football,” Fertig said.

Once again, easier said than done. The Panthers have thrown just

46 passes all season.

Estancia will be without offensive and defensive lineman Gary

Strawn, who is out for the season with a separated shoulder. Without

one of their primary run stuffers, the Eagles will attempt to put as

many men near the line of scrimmage as possible to slow down Orange

running backs Justin Jones (1,455 yards and 14 touchdowns) and Daniel

Chairez (823 yards an 10 touchdowns).

The two backs consistently take pitches and run off-tackle with a

number of blockers leading the play.

“They get a bunch of people in front of the football and they roll

over everybody,” Fertig said. “We’re going to try to disrupt it a

little bit, throw some things at them they haven’t seen.”

Changes on the Eagles defense include moving sophomore Kalani Teo,

who played well last week against Costa Mesa, to weakside linebacker

and playing senior Chad Sherrell at inside linebacker.

“We want our best speed and instinct guys in there,” Fertig said.

Fertig also wants to get Teo and Geo Macias more opportunities to

carry the ball. He may be forced to do so because of an ankle injury

that may limit senior Mike Cahill. Teo and Macias would line up

behind 225-pound fullback Bubba Kapko and provide the Eagles with

some speed on offense.

They’ll need it to keep up with an Orange offense that is

averaging 385.6 yards per game and 37.6 points per game.