Eagles run over by Lions

Estancia plays a solid first half before things spiral out of control in third quarter against host Westminster.WESTMINSTER -- Estancia High looked like a quality football team for a while Friday -- then it gave up a large chunk of points in a short amount of time.

The Eagles played solid, turnover-free football in the first half against first-place Westminster. But three turnovers in the first 5:30 of the third quarter led to three Westminster touchdowns, and the Lions roared to a 42-0 victory on their homecoming night.

In more than one game this season, Estancia has looked like a team turning the corner. Flashes of impressive play have dotted otherwise forgettable performances.

But when fireworks flashed through the sky during Westminster’s halftime homecoming celebration, it -- for the most part -- marked the end of any kind of brilliance on Estancia’s part on Friday night.

Estancia opened the second half on a positive note when quarterback Ryan Watson threw a lateral to Mike Morley, who hurled the ball to Alex Lagrand down the sideline for a 32-yard gain. But two plays later, Watson fumbled the snap and Westminster recovered on the Eagles 35-yard-line.

On the next play, Westminster’s Mitchell Nhep -- whose 162 yards rushing on the night put him over 1,000 for the season -- rambled 65 yards for a touchdown.

Five plays into the Eagles’ next drive, the Lions’ Adam Gutierrez intercepted Watson’s pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

Then another Estancia fumble deep in its own territory set up Tuan Vu’s 1-yard touchdown plunge, and Westminster led 35-0 with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

“Three turnovers early in the second half opened up a close game,” Westminster Coach Ted McMillan said. “They were playing tough against us.”

The Estancia defense took Westminster out of its passing game early. On Westminster’s first play from scrimmage, quarterback Ben Chapple dropped back to pass and was hit by Matt Redding as he threw. His pass floated, and Clayton Mills nearly came up with the interception.

As if taking the hint, the Lions ran the ball on nine of their next 10 plays and scored on a 23-yard keeper by Chapple. The Lions ran the ball on five of seven plays in their second drive, scoring on a 17-yard blast by Charles Osgood.

“We want to be balanced, but we had problems with pass protection tonight,” McMillan said.

After forcing the Lions to punt in the second quarter, the Eagles embarked on their best drive of the night. They went 54 yards on 11 plays and ate up 6:23 by mixing in the run.

Watson had runs of 10 and 6 yards on keepers out of the shotgun formation, and completed a 17-yard pass to Ezequiel Villalvazo. But the drive ended when Watson threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-6 at the Westminster 27-yard line.

“Last week I was a little bitter after the game because I felt that was a game we could win,” Estancia Coach Brian Barnes said about his team’s 20-12 loss to Ocean View. “Tonight, I was proud of the way the kids played in the first half. But three turnovers after halftime -- that kills you.”