Eagles find small victory

Steve Virgen

The Estancia High football team, which lost its eighth straight

game of the season, managed to find a small victory against nonleague

foe Pacifica at Bolsa Grande Thursday night.

The Eagles (1-8) ended their three-game scoreless streak, but

Pacifica gained 439 rushing yards, leading to a 58-7 win.

“We have to take our victories where we can get them,” Estancia

Coach Jay Noonan said. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Even Milpitas

wasn’t built in a day. We’re not Rome, but we sure aren’t Milpitas,

either.”

Trailing, 30-0, at halftime, Estancia came out with some fire in

the third quarter. Eagle senior Louis Valdes Jr. ran back the opening

kickoff 34 yards to the Pacifica 45. Estancia drove to the 8 in seven

plays, aided by a Valdes 13-yard reception from quarterback Brad

Young, and a pass interference penalty drawn by Valdes.

On fourth-and-one from the Pacifica 8, junior fullback Bubba Kapko

appeared to have picked up the first down on a 1-yard plunge, but

there was an illegal procedure penalty.

The Eagles went for it on fourth down again and Young found senior

Lewis Bradshaw open in the end zone for the touchdown pass.

Estancia’s three-game scoreless streak tied the program’s record.

“I was jumping up and down,” Noonan said. “I was really happy for

our offensive coordinator. We try to take the little victories. I was

really happy for Lewis and Brad Young. It really has been

frustrating. It was exciting and we were happy.”

Though the touchdown brought elation to the Eagles, Estancia

suffered in its running game. The Eagles gained only 27 rushing

yards, while Pacifica built a 30-0 lead.

The Mariners’ David Heller ran for 157 yards and three TDs, then

sat out the second half.