Barnes’ aim is CIF title

Many credited Craig Fertig, the former USC quarterback hero who

coached many years at the collegiate and pro levels, for restoring

pride during his two-year stint as the Estancia High football coach.

But first-year head man Brian Barnes, the Eagles’ fifth coach in

nine years, is intent on bringing something his players can be truly

proud of: championships.

“Ultimately, our goal is to win a CIF championship,” said Barnes,

who learned football at the foot of his father, John Barnes, the

all-time victory leader among Orange County prep coaches, for whom

Brian played at Los Alamitos.

“How soon will that happen? It’s tough to say,” said Barnes, 26, a

6-foot-7, 300-pound presence who played offensive tackle at Nevada.

“But we’re here to compete, win games and win championships.”

Longtime Estancia observers might suggest Barnes has swapped

ideological Kool-Aid for Gatorade, as he prepares for his first

season as a head coach on any level.

The Eagles, in fact, have won just two league titles (Sea View

League crowns in 1979 and 1989) in their first 40 varsity seasons.

The program has failed to win a playoff game since 1980, has won just

three postseason games in its history and has ventured to the

playoffs just once since 1995.

Barnes is not unaware of this. But he is decidedly more familiar

with the rich tradition of Los Al, where his dad provides a role

model as well as a perpetual sounding board.

“Los Al is definitely the blueprint for our program,” said Barnes,

who took his players to watch the Griffins practice last spring and

has duplicated several aspects of that highly successful program,

including the spread offense.

“I have given our kids a vision for what our program should be and

No. 1 on the list is to be an exciting team to watch both offensively

and defensively,” Barnes said. “Our base formation is four wide, with

one back, out of the shotgun.”

Barnes, however, believes schemes are secondary to scheming in

these formative stages of building a program.

“Since I got here in April, we’ve totally changed things,” said

Barnes, who enlisted several former Los Al players and coaches to

form much of his coaching staff. “We expect nothing but greatness

from these kids. Some kids told me our spring practice was harder

than their two-a-days [last year]. A big thing, right now, is just

getting the kids to buy in.”

Barnes said there is evidence this has been accomplished.

“On our three weeks off [a CIF Southern Section mandated dead

period that football usually observes in late July and early August],

we had 15 to 20 kids out there every day on their own running and

throwing, just wanting to get better,” Barnes said. “When I saw that,

I was tickled.”

A review of the roster, however, suggests less to be giddy about

as the Eagles return just one player who started more than four games

on offense, as well as three starters on defense.

Two of those defensive returners, outside linebacker Clayton Mills

and cornerback Ezequiel Villalvazo, both seniors this fall, earned

second-team All-Golden West League recognition.

Nelson Leon, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior leader, started both

ways last fall at center and defensive end. He returns to anchor the

offensive line, and shifts to middle linebacker in the four-three

alignment.

But emptiness in the offensive cupboard is more pronounced than

any other Newport-Mesa program, as virtually every productive

contributor graduated after last year’s 4-6 campaign.

Returning players accounted for just 18 combined rushing yards

last season, while returning receivers had five catches for 101

yards.

Senior Ryan Watson, expected to start at quarterback this season,

leads returners in both passing and receiving yards, having thrown

for 221 yards and two touchdowns in four games and, later, catching

four passes for 100 yards and one touchdown as a receiver.

Barnes, however, was generous with praise for his projected

lineup, one that might include as many as seven two-way starters.

Despite a shortage of experienced returners, Barnes plans to have

17 seniors manning the 22 starting jobs on offense and defense, with

four juniors and one sophomore stepping into the fray as well.

Included in the theme of change will be new uniforms, Barnes said.

Out are the USC knockoffs and in are home and away jerseys with

Estancia printed across the breast plate.

“I never liked to see teams on the field where you couldn’t tell

where they were from, because they had nothing on their jerseys,”

Barnes said. “We want people to know we’re from Estancia and we’re

proud of it.”

The Eagles will try to do themselves proud in their final year in

the Golden West League, where defending champion Westminster and 2003

champ Orange are, once again, the consensus favorites.

Estancia will join a league yet to be named in 2006. The new

league will also consist of Costa Mesa, Calvary Chapel, Laguna Beach

and Godinez.

The Eagles open the season Friday against district rival Corona

del Mar.

Estancia then plays Huntington Park and Buena Park, before opening

league Sept. 30 in the annual Battle for the Bell against crosstown

rival Costa Mesa.

A victory over Costa Mesa would put Estancia into immediate

contention for one of the league’s three guaranteed playoff berths.

Colors: Red, gold and white.

League: Golden West.

2002 record: 4-6, 2-4 in league.

Type of offense: Multiple.

Type of defense: Four-three.

Head coach: Brian Barnes (first year).

Staff: Barnes (off. line); Robert Trice (off. coordinator); Wayne

Schmida (def. coordinator); Ed Dominguez (off. line, def. line);

Brandon Thornton (receivers, secondary); Dave Daniels (def. line).

Returning starters: One offense, three defense.

Returning lettermen: 14.

Returning with honors: LB Clayton Mills, CB Ezequiel Villalvazo.

2004 results

*--*

14 Corona del Mar 35

33 Magnolia 26

19 Buena Park 0

21 Orange* 23

34 Garden Grove 41

21 Ocean View* 14

7 Westminster* 42

13 Saddleback* 14

12 Santa Ana* 26

18 Costa Mesa* 13

*--*

2005 schedule

Friday, Sept. 2 -- Corona del Mar (at Orange Coast), 7

Thursday, Sept. 8 -- Huntington Park (at OCC), 7

Friday, Sept. 16 -- at Buena Park, 7

Friday, Sept. 30 -- Costa Mesa* (at OCC), 7

Friday, Oct. 7 -- Orange* (at El Modena), 7

Thursday, Oct. 13 -- Garden Grove (at Newport Harbor), 7

Friday, Oct. 21 -- at Ocean View*, 7

Friday, Oct. 28 -- at Westminster*, 7

Thursday, Nov. 3 -- Saddleback* (at Orange Coast), 7

Friday, Nov. 11 -- Santa Ana* (at OCC), 7

* denotes league game.