Estancia on path to the unknown

Eddie Tomasek will be the starting quarterback for Estancia High in the Eagles’ final nonleague game of the season tonight at Vasquez (0-6) of Acton.

The job is Tomasek’s because injuries have rendered the team’s first three quarterbacks on the depth chart unable to play.

Tomasek will continue to play starting linebacker, a role he’s had since the beginning of the season.

He played quarterback for Estancia on the freshman team.

The former starting quarterback, senior Mike Morley, suffered a season-ending injury making a tackle against Ocean View. Morley broke his right elbow. Morley had surgery to put screws in the elbow this week.

“It’s a huge loss, but the other guys are going to pick it up for us,” Estancia Coach Mike Bargas said. “We can’t do much about it. He was our team captain, and he’ll be on the sidelines, but play-wise, we lose a valuable asset to the team.”

Neither backups Radames Gutierrez nor Alek Kirshner — the current junior varsity quarterback — can play tonight because of injuries. Kirshner is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Gutierrez is still recovering from a high ankle sprain.

According to Bargas, Gutierrez is about 85% recovered, but Bargas wants him to sit out this week, and use the bye week to recover before the team’s Orange Coast League opener against Calvary Chapel Oct. 26.

“Whatever happens this game, hopefully we have some success,” Bargas said. “But we need to have Radames ready for league. Unless Eddie does a great job [tonight], then there’ll be some competition for that.”

Wide receiver Ryan Redding is a possibility at backup quarterback, and Bargas is bringing up a freshman as well.

With Tomasek gone as an option at receiver, Jason Moreno will take the third receiver spot if necessary. Redding and Michael Arciga, who is filling in for Gutierrez on defense, will be the two starting receivers.

“It’s kind of good because Eddie is multi-faceted,” Bargas said, trying to find some optimism. “He can play quarterback and he’s a receiver. We could even play him at running back if we really needed him.”

At this point, Bargas might want to knock on wood that tailback Carlos Mendez stays healthy.

The Eagles (2-4) won’t just be playing on the fly with a reduced playbook; Vasquez coaches also refused to exchange game film with Estancia, so Bargas has no idea what to expect. He has tried to prepare the team in the same way he did for the season opener against Aquinas. Bargas didn’t have any film on that team.

“The coaches didn’t exchange any film with us, which is unfortunate, since you’re supposed to exchange film,” Bargas said. “That put us in a bad position, so really, we’re going into the unknown on what they run defensively or offensively.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.