Estancia Football Preview

Estancia vs. Loara

When/where: Friday, 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium

Key Eagles: Sr. RB Robert Murtha; Sr. FB/SS DeionTe Haywood; Sr. WR/CB Levi Stillman.

Key Saxons: Jr. QB David Gistlinck; Sr. RB/SS Joseph Stirrat; Sr. WR/CB Connor O’Shea.

Breakdown: The nonleague game is the season opener for both schools ... Estancia opens the year ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division after winning its first playoff game since 1980 and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in program history last year ... Estancia has 29 seniors, the most in Coach Mike Bargas’ six-year tenure ... This is the first time Estancia has played Loara since 1969. Loara leads the all-time series, 4-0 ... Murtha, a three-year starter at tailback, broke his own school record by rushing for 2,216 yards last year on his way to Orange Coast League Offensive Player of the Year honors ... Loara, which finished 3-7 last year and failed to make the playoffs, is a divisional opponent for Estancia.

— Matt Szabo