One last hurrah for Eagle seniors

Patrick Laverty

Estancia High football coach Craig Fertig shared his memories of his

final high school game with his players Tuesday, letting his core

group of seniors know just what they are capable of tonight when the

Eagles play Pacifica at Newport Harbor High at 7.

It was 1959 -- “Long before your parents were born,” Fertig said

-- when Fertig helped his Huntington Park High team win a game it

wasn’t supposed to win to finish his high school career.

The Eagles (3-6), with their Golden West League schedule finished,

face similar odds in the nonleague contest against Pacifica (6-3),

which has already clinched a playoff berth and is ranked No. 10 in

CIF Southern Section Division IX.

Among Estancia’s seniors are fullback and leading rusher Bubba

Kapko, quarterback Brad Young, linemen Yousif Muradian, Landon

Pulizzi and Gary Jones, as well as linebackers Chad Sherrell and Mike

Softa. Another senior, Mike Cahill, will return to the lineup this

week after missing the previous game with a ankle injury.

“I think all our seniors are going to give everything they have,”

Fertig said.

The question is whether Estancia will have enough firepower to

withstand a Pacifica team that has won four in a row.

The Eagles are without standout senior defensive tackle Gary

Strawn and senior receiver and cornerback Jason Johnston has been

battling the flu and a knee injury this week. Junior receiver and

cornerback Geo Macias has also been troubled with a shoulder injury.

The weakened secondary has been bolstered by the addition of

Young, who has worked at free safety this week.

“He volunteered and he’s looking pretty good back there,” Fertig

said. “He said, ‘Coach, I can play 48 minutes.’ ”

The defense will be tested by a balanced Pacifica team that is

averaging 37.4 points per game and has scored at least 43 points in

three straight games.

But of greater concern to Fertig is Pacifica’s defensive front,

against which Estancia will be attempting to end a two-game scoring

draught.

“Their defensive line, jiminy Christmas, they come across the line

of scrimmage and try to make something happen,” Fertig said.