Estancia eager to face challenge

Estancia High football coach Brian Barnes has watched his Eagles outscore their first two opponents, Mark Keppel and Bolsa Grande, a combined 100-7.

But he knows there are still doubters.

Barnes believes his team, ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division, will gain more respect with a win against Buena Park (0-1) tonight at 7 at Newport Harbor High.

“Even though it’s only Week Three for us, it’s a defining game in our season,” Barnes said. “A lot of people aren’t sure the Eagles are very good. If we can beat Buena Park, a lot of people might start paying attention.”

Buena Park has a six-game losing streak dating back to last season, when the Coyotes went 4-6, but finished the year 0-5 in the Freeway League.

The Coyotes opened this season with a 42-0 loss to Fountain Valley, although Buena Park was trailing just 14-0 at halftime.

The Coyotes also return key parts, like senior quarterback Elvis Oropeza and senior running back Joseph Bislig. Four of the Coyotes’ five offensive linemen are also returning starters.

“It’ll be a tough game,” Barnes said. “They’ve got some really big offensive and defense linemen who play real hard. They’re going to try to use their linemen to outmuscle us, and I think they’ll try to run the football.”

Last year, Barnes said the Eagles came into the game against Buena Park overconfident and ended up losing, 17-8. The second-year coach said he was confident that his team wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

“This year, we have a different team,” Barnes said. “We’re trying to teach them to play the right way.”

Defensively, Barnes said Buena Park will likely line up in a five-two front and blitz often to try to get to Eagles quarterback Mike Morley.

Morley has completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 407 yards and eight touchdowns. He has thrown only one interception.

Morley’s favorite receiver has been senior Matt Redding. The returning All-Newport-Mesa performer has eight catches for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He also has a rushing TD.

Estancia senior Eddie Tomasek has five receptions for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

In last year’s loss to Buena Park, Estancia had no offensive touchdowns, the Eagles’ only score came on Matt Redding’s fumble recovery and return for a touchdown.

“They try to bring it,” Barnes said of the Coyotes’ defense. “They really use their big boys up front. I think we can pass on them, but the question is if we can get the ball off.”

Barnes made only a minor change to this week’s likely starting lineup, penciling in Danny Orozco at starting fullback.

He said the team’s strong offseason workout program has helped decrease injuries for the Eagles, allowing Estancia’s first-team to remain intact.

“Last year, we were fighting injuries the first few weeks of the season,” Barnes said. “We’ve had some bumps and bruises so far this year, but, hopefully, as the season goes on, we can stay healthy.”

Orozco, a senior, rushed for 67 yards and two TDs in last week’s 56-0 win over Bolsa Grande.

“Danny played great,” Barnes said. “If we need a bruiser, we know he can get two or three yards every time. And last week, he got more than that.”

Barnes said tonight’s game, like every game, is considered a must-win by the Estancia coaches and players.

“That’s how you have to do it,” Barnes said.