High School Football: Trojans handle Eagles

IRVINE — Estancia High football coach Mike Bargas said his team came out flat in Friday’s nonleague game at University High.

And after a scoreless first quarter, things definitely took a downward turn for the Eagles, who threw an interception and lost a fumble on consecutive possessions to allow the Trojans to take the first steps toward a 37-7 victory.

University cashed the two turnovers into 14 points, scored in a 91-second span, and the hosts tacked on with their next possession to take a 21-0 halftime lead.

The first half was cut short 59 seconds, after Estancia senior defense end Jonathan Garcia was taken from the field to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Garcia sustained an apparent neck injury with 59 seconds left in the half.

Garcia was attended to on the field and placed on a backboard, before being transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Bargas said Garcia felt sensation in all his extremities and he was moving his hands and never lost consciousness on the field after the injury.

Bargas said every precaution was taken with Garcia, and he expected to hear good news from the hospital, where X-rays and an MRI were being performed, later Friday evening.

The only good news for the Eagles on the field came when senior quarterback Eric Carrasco scored on a two-yard run with 18 seconds left to avert the shutout.

Tyler Ross returned a punt 31 yards to the University 42-yard line to set up the Eagles’ late scoring drive.

Until the final drive, Estancia’s deepest penetration was the Trojans’ 40-yard line.

The Eagles (1-3), who have lost three straight, had minus-six yards rushing and just eight total yards of offense in the first half. They finished with 16 yards rushing and 28 yards passing. Three of Estancia’s five first downs came on penalties.

“We just couldn’t get anything going,” Bargas said. “We weren’t ready to play.”

Bargas also credited Uni (4-0), which scored on its first three second-half possession to take a 37-0 lead with 4:41 left in the third quarter, to set up a running clock for the final period.

Uni rolled up 309 rushing yards, including Clark Smith touchdown runs of 62 and 30 yards. Smith finished with 122 yards on five carries, and had one 17-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty.

Alex Pourdanesh powered his way to 113 yards and one touchdown on 18 rushing attempts. Pourdanesh, the son of former University and NFL lineman Sharr Pourdanesh, was one of seven Trojans with one reception, his going for a team-best 20 yards.

Nonleague

University 37, Estancia 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Estancia 0 – 0 – 0 – 7– 7

Uni 0 – 21 – 16 – 0 – 37

SECOND QUARTER

Uni – Dolan 1 run (Loveland kick), 10:45.

Uni – Smith 30 run (Loveland kick), 9:14.

Uni – Pourdanesh 2 run (Loveland kick), 5:51.

THIRD QUARTER

Uni – Loveland 39 FG, 9:40.

Uni – Goodfriend 1 run (Loveland kick), 5:24.

Uni – Smith 62 run (kick blocked), 4:11.

FOURTH QUARTER

Est – Carrasco 2 run (Martinez kick), 0:18.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Est – Kerkhoff, 3-20 .

Uni – Smith, 5-122, 2 TDs; Pourdanesh, 18-113, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Est – Carrasco, 9-21-1, 28.

Uni – Keeling, 7-12-0, 73.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Est – Quinones, 4-13.

Uni – Pourdanesh, 1-20.