Eagles hope hard work pays off

Second-year Estancia High football coach Brian Barnes doesn’t know how good his team will be this season. But after rigorous off-season workouts and a lot of time in the weight room, he knows his players will be bigger and stronger than they were last year.

Barnes said 75 kids came out for football in the winter. Now the number is down to 45.

“We’re trying to turn Estancia football around,” Barnes said. “A lot of kids didn’t understand the work ethic it takes.”

Nowhere is it more evident than on the offensive line, which will average roughly 245-250 pounds, up from 215-220 last year, when the Eagles went 2-9.

“We had tough off-season workouts and just about every kid got bigger,” Barnes said. “Sure, I’m excited about it, but we’ve still got to play.”

Last year’s diminutive offensive line allowed Estancia runners to average just 1.4 yards per carry. And 219 of Estancia’s 352 rushing yards came during a 34-7 victory over Saddleback.

“We’re going to focus more on establishing the run,” Barnes said.

But will bigger mean better for the Eagles? The offensive line features Sean Ulrich and Connor McKendry, both of whom received honorable mention in the All-Golden West League voting last season. Ulrich is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior left tackle. McKendry (6-5, 250) is a junior right tackle. He’s a two-way player who has improved a lot during the off-season, according to Barnes.

The Eagles also have a little bit of experience on the offensive line in the form of junior left guard Alex Machuca (5-11, 250), who was a part-time starter last season.

Right guard Davis Lettieri (6-0, 255), a junior, is 30 pounds heavier than last year’s starting right guard. Junior center David Lopez ( 5-9, 260), has 35 pounds on last year’s starting center.

Barnes said Lettieri is the strongest guy on the team at the bench press, where he lifts more than 300 pounds.

Another player who could see time on the offensive line is Junior Contreras. Barnes calls the 6-foot, 260-pound senior the strongest player in the program.

Barnes is sticking with the spread offense he introduced last season. It’s the offense his father, John Barnes, uses at perennial powerhouse Los Alamitos. The Eagles will use four receivers and one running back, with the quarterback in a shotgun formation. “We’re keeping everything the same,” Barnes said. “At Los Alamitos, my dad has kept things the same for 27 years.”

With a bigger, stronger, more experienced offensive line, the Eagles’ playmakers might have more room to roam. Leading the charge is Matt Redding, a first-team All-Golden West League receiver last season.

The 6-2, 200-pound senior put on 20 pounds of muscle after last season, when he was, Barnes said, the top receiver in the league.

Redding had 36 catches for 409 yards and seven touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 75, 74, 60 and 34 yards.

“He dedicated himself to being a football player and working hard,” Barnes said of one of the team’s captains. “He worked with a personal trainer in the off-season.”

Redding also has taken on a leadership role.

“During spring football, he was teaching the other receivers plays in classroom sessions,” Barnes said.

With his experience and added strength, Redding could become a dominant wide receiver.

“He has the opportunity to be the player of the year in our league,” Barnes said.

Stepping in at quarterback is Mike Morley. The 6-2, 175-pound junior was a starting receiver and a backup quarterback last year to Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection Ryan Watson, who graduated. Watson was 119 of 243 passing for 1,453 yards, including 11 TDs and seven interceptions.

Morley completed six of his eight passes last season for 164 yards with two TDs and one interception. Both of his TD tosses came on double passes.

“He has been working with my dad,” Barnes said. “He’s very sharp. He understands football and knows where to go with the ball.”

Barnes said while Morley needs more arm strength, he’s an accurate passer. But the best thing about him?

“I have him for two years,” Barnes said.

Mike Morley’s older brother, senior Tim Morley, who starts at outside linebacker, is the backup quarterback.

“The brothers battling it out,” Barnes said. “Tim throws the ball really well, but we’ll use him more on defense. He’s a great athlete and a versatile player for us.”

Barnes hopes senior Rafael Alejandre will be a force at running back.

Last year’s leading rusher, Ezequiel Villalvazo, led the team with 110 yards, splitting time at running back and receiver.

Alejandre saw some time at running back and defensive end last year, despite playing through an injury. He had a personal-best 27 yards rushing on six carries during a 50-6 loss to Orange.

“He broke an ankle against Orange last season and never got it checked out,” Barnes said. “He never told anybody. He’s probably the toughest kid on the team.”

Barnes’ favorite defensive unit is his linebacking crew. Danny Orosco moves from defensive end to inside linebacker. He’ll be flanked by strong-side linebacker Alejandre and Tim Morley.

The trio hopes to help the Eagles’ cut down on the 2,723 yards rushing they allowed last season.

“Those are three of the toughest kids on the team,” Barnes said. “I’m really excited about the linebacking crew. The three of them, if healthy, will be very successful for us. They should be forces.”

Barnes hopes the team’s added size and strength translates into wins. With a revamped schedule that favors the Eagles, it just might.

Estancia’s nonleague schedule includes just two teams that were on the schedule last year in Buena Park and Ocean View.

Gone are Corona del Mar, Huntington Park and Garden Grove. Estancia lost to those three schools by a combined margin of 89-31.

New to the nonleague schedule is Mark Keppel, Bolsa Grande, La Quinta, West Ranch and JSerra.

“We can compete with this schedule,” Barnes said.

Mark Keppel (3-7) and JSerra (0-10), along with two Garden Grove League teams — Bolsa Grande (1-10) and La Quinta (3-7) — had a combined record of 7-34 last year. West Ranch, playing varsity football for the first time, is a new high school in Stevenson Ranch, near Valencia. In addition, every game in the newly formed Orange Coast League is winnable for Estancia.

Costa Mesa, Calvary Chapel, and Laguna Beach are in the league, as well as Godinez, which will not field a varsity football team this season.

The Eagles, who had six league games last year, have just three this season, putting more importance on each contest.

“I haven’t dealt with this kind of situation before,” Barnes said. “Going from a seven-team league to a four-team league is a lot different. But we’ll prepare the same for every game on our schedule.

“Granted, the kids get a little more excited about the league games, especially the Costa Mesa game, but every game is important as we try to get back to the playoffs.”

Only two teams out of the league get automatic spots in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.

The Eagles think they can be one of them.

“I think every team is equal,” Barnes said. “Laguna Beach might have the upper hand. But with just four teams, you never know. We’re trying for the league title and I’m sure every other team feels the same way. It’s kind of up for grabs.”

Barnes said that unlike last year, when the Eagles got clobbered in the first round of the playoffs, they might be able to do some damage when they get there.

“Last year we were just happy to be there,” Barnes said. “And it’s a tough division, but we’re hoping to make a little run.”

However, Estancia has only won league titles twice in the last 41 years — in 1979 and 1989. The Eagles have not won a CIF playoff game since 1980.

The Eagles reached the Division VII playoffs last year despite winning just two regular-season games.

They were trounced, 58-7, in the first round by Santa Fe.

The Eagles most likely will need a better regular season to make the playoffs, but their schedule, combined with Barnes’ year of experience under his belt, should lead to a better showing.

“Last year, in six out of 10 games, we couldn’t compete,” Barnes said. “This year all 10 games we can compete in.”

THE EAGLES

Colors: Red, gold and white

League: Orange Coast.

2005 record: 2-9, 2-4 in league.

Type of offense: Spread

Type of defense: Four-three

Head coach: Brian Barnes (second year)

Staff: Barnes (offensive coordinator); Robert Trice (defensive coordinator); Ed Dominguez (offensive line, defensive line); Brad DeSoto (receivers, secondary, special teams); Dave Daniels (defensive line), Marchant Euidamond (running backs, linebackers), David Memelli (receivers, linebackers), Ezequiel Villalvazo (receivers).

Returning starters: Five offense; five defense.

Returning lettermen: 24

Returning with honors: WR Matt Redding.

2005 ResultsOpponentScoreCorona del Mar26-6 LHunt. Park 23-6 LBuena Park 17-8 LCosta Mesa* 20-14 WOrange* 50-6 LGarden Grove* 40-19 LOcean View* 20-12 LWestminster* 42-0 LSaddleback* 34-7 WSanta Ana* 39-0 LSanta Fe** 58-7 L

2006 ScheduleDateOpponentSiteTimeFridayMark KeppelOCC7 p.m.Sept. 8Bolsa GrandeOCC7 p.m.Sept. 15Buena ParkNewport Har.7 p.m.Sept. 21JSerraOCC7:30 p.m.Sept. 30La QuintaBolsa Grande7 p.m.Oct. 6Ocean ViewAway7 p.m.Oct. 13West RanchOCC7 p.m.Oct. 27Costa Mesa*Newport Har.7 p.m.Nov. 3Laguna Beach*Away7 p.m.Nov. 10Calvary Chapel*OCC7:30 p.m.

* denotes league game; ** denotes playoff game