High School Football: El Dorado wakes up against Estancia
PLACENTIA — Estancia on Friday had the misfortune of going up against a hungry and improved El Dorado team that was looking for its first on-the-field victory since 2013.
The Golden Hawks seemed to take out their two-plus years of frustration on the Eagles.
El Dorado scored 27 first quarter points and rolled 43-13 victory in a nonleague contest played at Valencia High School.
The Golden Hawks (1-1) had come within four points in a loss against Troy last week and despite their futility in recent seasons, Estancia Coach Mike Bargas knew going in that El Dorado shouldn’t be overlooked.
“We weren’t ready to play and they were and that was the end result,” Bargas said. “We got caught flat-footed. It’s a big learning lesson for us.”
El Dorado scored touchdowns on all six of its first-half possessions and set the tone right away when Jared Nitzel returned the opening kickoff 77 yards to set up the Hawks on the Eagles’ 18-yard line.
On the next play, quarterback Jack Strouse ran for an 18-yard touchdown to give the Golden Hawks a 7-0 lead.
The Golden Hawks started their second drive on their own 42-yard line and needed just five plays to score their second touchdown, which came on a 26-yard pass from Strouse to Robert Arroyo.
An interception by James Crupi set up El Dorado’s next score, a five-yard touchdown pass from Strouse to Garrett Seiler.
Strouse went on to complete nine of 14 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns.
The Eagles (1-1), meanwhile, couldn’t establish any momentum early in the game and were held to 11 yards rushing in the first half.
The Eagles best chance for a touchdown came midway through the second quarter when they faced a third-and-seven from the El Dorado 8.
But quarterback Eric Carrasco was sacked for a 12-yard loss and Estancia had to settle for a 42-yard field goal by Andy Martinez.
Estancia received the kickoff to open the third quarter but fumbled the ball away two plays into their opening drive.
The Eagles’ second drive of the third quarter resulted in an interception by Austin Shear, which the Golden Hawks converted into a 27-yard field goal from Nathan Jaquez to take a 43-3 lead.
On their next possession, the Eagles drove 65 yards to the El Dorado 8 before settling for a second field goal from Martinez, this one for 30 yards.
The contest was well out of reach when the Eagles finally found the end zone on a 20-yard pass from Carrasco to Tyler Ross.
Carrasco completed 15 of 25 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
“I’ve always preached, fast start and finish strong,” said El Dorado Coach Zack La Monda, who is in his second season with the Golden Hawks. “I think we did that today.”
Nonleague
El Dorado 43, Estancia 13
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Estancia 0 - 3 - 3 - 7 - 13
El Dorado 27 - 13 - 3 - 0 - 43
FIRST QUARTER
ED – Strouse 18 run (Jaquez kick), 11:40.
ED – Arroyo 28 pass from Strouse (Jaquez kick), 8:12.
ED – Seiler 5 pass from Strouse (Jaquez kick), 6:27.
ED – Arroyo 25 run (Kick failed), 3:33.
SECOND QUARTER
ED – Leech 30 pass from Strouse (Jaquez kick), 8:21.
Est – FG Martinez 42, 3:21.
ED – Fulton 1 run (Kick failed), 1:52.
THIRD QUARTER
ED – FG Jaquez 27, 3:36.
Est – FG Martinez 30, 1:11.
FOURTH QUARTER
Est – Ross 20 pass from Carrasco (Martinez kick), 3:59.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING
ED - Fulton 7-97, 1 TD.
Est - Kerkhoff 9-62.
INDIVIDUAL PASSING
ED - Strouse 9-14-0-148, 3 TDs.
Est - Carrasco 15-25-2-170, 1 TD.
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING
ED - Leech 2-42, 1 TD.
Est - Brown 6-54.