Prep football: Eagles possess hope

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Estancia High football coach Jay Noonan takes pride

in the fact that his winless Eagles have refused to give up at any point

this season.

Estancia, however, has made a habit of allowing its opponent to take

five, as in an average time-of-possession advantage of around 5:20 per

game.

The Eagles (0-5, 0-1 in the Pacific Coast League) will try to cut into

that disadvantage against heavily favored Northwood (6-0, 0-1), when the

two collide Friday at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College.

And while Noonan acknowledges the Timberwolves, ranked No. 3 in CIF

Southern Section Division IX, will pose a formidable challenge, he will

try to have his Eagles ready.

“I write a preview for our scouting report each week, in which I list

the opponent’s strengths,” Noonan said. “If you look at things on paper,

our kids might wonder why we’re even playing this game. But games are not

played on paper. Every team is capable of winning or losing each week. If

I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be in this business. I have never

trained any of my players to go out and lose a game.”

That said, Noonan is aware the odds are not in the Eagles’ favor.

“Northwood showed a lot of weapons last week against Costa Mesa (a

31-6 win),” Noonan said. “It’s a well-coached, disciplined team that

makes no bones about wanting to run the ball down your throat.

“For us to win or to be successful, we can’t make mistakes. We need to

get the ball in the hands of kids who can make some things happen for us.

Another big key for us will be trying to keep our defense off the field

for as long as possible.”

Trying to keep it’s offense on the field may prove problematic for the

Eagles, who will face a Northwood defense that ranks third in Orange

County in scoring defense, allowing just 10 points per game.

The Eagles’ offense has been outproduced exactly two to one in total

yardage by its opponents this fall (2,080 yards to 1,040) and Estancia’s

veer option attack has produced 22 fumbles, eight of which have been

lost.

The Eagles are led by junior quarterback Lewis Bradshaw, who has

thrown for 464 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two additional

TDs. He has completed 37 of 79 without an interception.

The Eagles’ leading rusher is senior Junior Tanielu, who has 291 yards

and three TDs on 52 carries. Tanielu will be joined in the starting

backfield by senior Joey Mueller, who does not have a carry this fall.

Senior Nate Harriman is the leading receiver with 12 catches for 267

yards and one TD, but Jermaine Snell has collected all eight of his

catches in the last two games, totaling 74 yards.

Junior Kyle Casillas, who started four games as a sophomore, is

scheduled to make his first start at receiver this season.

Northwood’s offense has produced 2,438 yards and an average of 30.5

points per game.

The T-wolves are triggered by senior returning All-PCL quarterback Dam

Tomcheck, who has thrown for 927 yards and 10 TDs, completing 64 of 116

with five interceptions.

Senior Andy Meyer, with 869 yards and seven TDs on 94 carries, is the

leading ground gainer, but senior Kyle Keating has amassed 362 yards on

41 carries the last three games to add to the backfield battalion.

Dave Anderson has 25 receptions for 346 yards and five TDs.

Estancia won last year’s meeting, 41-36, a game that produced more

than 900 yards of combined offense.