TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Sept. 26, 2006 12 AM PT

One highlight of Estancia High’s 34-33 nonleague football victory over JSerra Thursday at Orange Coast College was a huge hit delivered by junior Julio Medero during an Estancia kickoff.

Eagles Coach Brian Barnes said Medero’s collision with a member of the JSerra blocking wedge had graphic consequences.

“The [JSerra] kid’s helmet went flying about 10 yards back, and actually landed on the ballcarrier,” Barnes said. “The ear pads and the kid’s mouthpiece all went flying in separate directions.

“It was the hit of the year. I was thinking about sending some video to ESPN. It was awesome.”

Medero’s blow was no aberration. The junior strong safety’s penchant for contact has helped him earn possession of the team’s “hit stick,” a tradition begun this year by Barnes to encourage aggressive play.

“The hit stick is up for grabs any time we have hitting, including practice,” Barnes said. “If you keep the hit stick for 10 straight days, you get an arrow decal on your helmet. [Medero] has had the hit stick for about eight days now, so he’s getting close. He plays with fearless abandon.”

The Sage Hill football facility was officially named Ramer Field during a halftime ceremony of Friday’s game against Western Christian.

Phil and Maureen Ramer are longtime supporters of the Lightning athletic program, Athletic Director Nate Miller said. Their son Kyle — a second-team All-Academy League offensive lineman for the Lightning in 2005 — graduated in June.

The Ramers also helped bring about the “team parent” program for Sage Hill athletics and were key advocates of bringing lights to the football field, Miller said.

“They were always onboard as enthusiastic parents,” he said.

Tis the season for foreshadowing? At halftime of the Battle of the Bay football game between Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar Thursday at Newport Harbor, the Sailors band played songs from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

The Sailors football team went scoreless in the second half and lost to Back Bay rival Corona del Mar for the first time in eight years.

Anticipation for the 45th edition of the Battle of the Bay was evident when those leaving the freshman game, shortly after 5 p.m., were greated by a line of close to 100 waiting outside the east entrance gate for first dibs on the prime seats for the 7 p.m. varsity game.

Corona del Mar senior cornerback Steven Hillgren intercepted a pass to end the first half. It was his 13th career interception, which is one short of tying the school record set by Warren Johnson in 1988 and 1989.

Estancia High senior running back Rafael Alejandre had a breakout game against JSerra. After rushing for 40 yards in the first half, he carried 15 times for 140 yards in the second half, including six runs of 10 yards or more.

Alejandre almost scored his second rushing touchdown of the year, but his dive for the pylon late in the third quarter was ruled just short of the end zone.

Estancia dominated the first half statistically against JSerra, but the Lions were helped by two botched punts, an interception and a fumble returned for a touchdown.

After Estancia went up, 14-0, midway through the first quarter, three consecutive JSerra possessions started on the Eagles’ 21-yard line, the Estancia 25 and the Estancia 7.

Those possessions — all of which ended in JSerra touchdowns — helped the Lions to a 33-21 halftime lead.

The 17 points Costa Mesa High scored in its nine-point victory over Bolsa Grande Friday were the most it has scored since Oct. 28 of 2005. In the second-to-last game of the season, Costa Mesa defeated Ocean View, 24-0.

Eight points was the fewest the Mustangs have surrendered since that game, the second-fewest since a 41-0 beating of Estancia on Oct. 30, 2003.

After Western Christian took a 31-0 lead early in the fourth quarter, Sage Hill’s offense awakened, scoring two touchdowns in just 1:49.

Quarterback Jamie McGee was four for six on the drives, the second set up when Michael Higgins recovered on onside kick.

Until the two TD drives, the Lightning had just one other second-half possession.

Sage Hill failed to take advantage of the penalties racked up by Western Christian. The Lancers had 105 penalty yards — 75 in the first half — compared to Sage’s one five-yard penalty.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

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