Prep football: T-wolves trounce Estancia

Amara Aguilar

Estancia High’s football team had the will, but could not find a

way to overcome a powerful Northwood team in a 49-6 Pacific Coast League

loss Friday at Orange Coast College.

“We are so young,” Estancia Coach Jay Noonan said. “We make mistakes.

But we try so hard. We fight until the bitter end.”

The Timberwolves (7-0, 2-0 in league) capitalized on three fumbles and

two interceptions and had a strong performance from Kyle Keating, who

gained 106 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the

team, ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division IX.

Northwood set the tone early. Bryan Bentrott recovered an Estancia

fumble at the 27-yard line three and a half minutes into the game to set

up the first Northwood touchdown, scored by Dan Tomcheck with 5:57 left

in the quarter.

Estancia (0-6, 0-2) gained possession, but was limited to minus-7

yards in four offensive plays. The Eagles got into punt formation, but

made an incomplete pass on the fake attempt to give the Timberwolves the

ball on the 16-yard line.

Keating ran for a touchdown on Northwood’s first snap to put the

Timberwolves ahead, 13-0.

Estancia took control of the ball, but again was limited on offense.

The Eagles’ 19-yard drive was cut short when Northwood’s Tim Tidwell

intercepted a long pass at his own 35-yard line with 2:15 left in the

first quarter.

Northwood capitalized on the interception. Andy Meyer ran 26 yards on

the last play of the first quarter to give the Timberwolves a 21-0 lead.

The Timberwolves did not let up. In the second quarter, Ryan Miller

intercepted a pass on Estancia’s first play after the ensuing kickoff.

Again, it would prove costly. Northwood’s Dan Tomcheck made a 37-yard

pass to Chad Starr who fell just short of the end zone. Keating finished

the drive on a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:50 left in the half.

In what seemed like instant replay, the Eagles again gave up a fumble

on their first play after the kickoff. This time, the turnover meant six

points, as Bentrott recovered the fumble in the end zone, extending the

Timberwolves’ lead to 35-0.

Estancia showed a glimmer of offense on its next possession.

Quarterback Lewis Bradshaw made a 38-yard pass to Nate Harriman and a

28-yard pass to Junior Tanielu to put the Eagles in scoring position.

Bradshaw ran the ball 2 yards for the touchdown with 8:22 left in the

second quarter.

The Eagles’ defense held Northwood to 21 yards on five plays during

the Timberwolves’ next possession.

With 2:27 left in the half, the Estancia defense stepped up again,

with an interception by Jermaine Snell, but the Eagles were pushed back

22 yards by the Timberwolves, who held on to a 35-6 lead at halftime.

Northwood added two touchdowns in the second half to seal the victory.

Meyer returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to open the third

quarter.

The first play after the ensuing kickoff, Northwood’s Mike Calender

recovered an Estancia fumble that led to the final touchdown, scored on a

15-yard run by Tim Carrier.

“Northwood is a good football team. They are strong and physical... “

Noonan said. “(Estancia players) are busting their butts. It’s not for

lack of effort. Everyone is trying to make things happen on every play.”

Leading the Eagles on offense were Bradshaw (38 yards on nine carries)

and Tanielu (41 yards on three carries). Bradshaw completed 9 of 17

passes for 88 yards.