At last, Estancia ready to fly

Almost unbearable as a loss in high school football is waiting for Friday night to roll around.

The Estancia High football team knows this, because the Eagles have been waiting as long as anyone.

Estancia has not played — or even practiced in pads — since its 37-20 victory at Vasquez of Acton on Oct. 12. The Eagles had a bye on Oct. 19, and were relegated to only watching film last week because of the unhealthy air caused by the Southern California fires.

So tonight’s Orange Coast League opener against Calvary Chapel, at 7:30 at Orange Coast College, is a welcome game indeed for Estancia, which just wants to go out there and hit somebody.

“We haven’t been in gear in two weeks,” Coach Mike Bargas said. “They’re really antsy. They want to get a game under their belts, and that’s good.”

But Estancia (3-4) doesn’t want to trip up and give Calvary Chapel (0-7) its first win of the season. Bargas said his team has to watch out for Calvary Chapel Coach Lyle Lansdell, who is known for his creative offenses.

Bargas was a longtime assistant coach at Newport Harbor High, while Lansdell is a former Corona del Mar offensive coordinator.

“Coach Lansdell, they’ve brought something different every week,” Bargas said. “He’s got a lot of tricks in his bag. Last week, against University, they came out in a double-wing [formation]. You don’t see that too often around this area.”

Sophomore quarterback Kevin Schick and senior receiver Jordan Trujillo highlight the Calvary Chapel attack.

“[Trujillo] is kind of their showcase guy,” Bargas said. “They like to get him the ball. They’re pretty big up front, but they’re also low in numbers like we are, so a lot of kids go both ways. I’m hoping that come third and fourth quarter, we’re able to withstand everything they give us and be in good shape.”

On defense, Calvary Chapel should run a 3-5-3 formation against Estancia, which will have junior Radames Gutierrez back at quarterback. Gutierrez, who played at quarterback for injured starter Mike Morley in a 27-26 loss against Ocean View on Oct. 5, completed four of seven passes for 90 yards in that game, including a 66-yard touchdown strike to Ryan Redding.

But Gutierrez himself didn’t play quarterback against Vasquez as he was recovering from a high ankle sprain. Senior receiver Eddie Tomasek, the Eagles’ third quarterback, completed seven passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

“Radames is going to be the guy against Calvary,” Bargas said. “He’s got a better throwing arm and we like to stay balanced with the pass and run game.”

Bargas added that Tomasek, Redding and freshman call-up Matt Carlyle will all be backups at quarterback.

It shouldn’t go that far, but sometimes a team needs to improvise. That’s what it will take this week since, after tonight’s game against Calvary Chapel, Estancia gets just three days to prepare for the Battle for the Bell against crosstown rival Costa Mesa, which is scheduled for Friday night at Newport Harbor.

“I bet you if I asked the kids if they’d play [today] and Tuesday, they’d play [today] and Tuesday,” Bargas said. “They just want to compete, and that I’m ecstatic about, because sometimes kids can get unmotivated and want to go surfing or whatever it is they do after school. These kids want to get it done.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.