Estancia’s Lucas Pacheco earns Orange Coast League Special Teams MVP in football

Estancia High junior Lucas Pacheco has earned Orange Coast League football Special Teams MVP honors after shining as a punter in 2019.

Estancia also had senior lineman Margarito Olivera, senior linebacker Nathan Pacheco and junior linebacker Nathan Zalpa as first-team all-league selections. Costa Mesa’s first-team picks were junior quarterback Nick Burton and senior receiver/linebacker Corey Richards.

Lucas Pacheco also played running back and safety for Estancia, which finished 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the league for fourth place. The Eagles failed to advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 13 playoffs.

As a punter, Lucas Pacheco averaged 35.8 yards a punt. He also had 26 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown, most of that coming in the Eagles’ 27-21 Battle for the Bell win over the rival Mustangs. Pacheco had 59 tackles on defense.

Olivera, a center and defensive tackle, finished with 14 tackles and one caused fumble.

Nathan Pacheco had 56 tackles, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. He added 100 carries for 513 yards and four touchdowns as a running back, as well as 13 catches for 71 yards.

Zalpa finished with a team-best 74 tackles. He had two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble.

Burton and Richards helped Costa Mesa improve from a winless season in 2018. Under the direction of first-year coach Jimmy Nolan, the Mustangs went 3-7 overall and 1-4 in league play.

Orange senior running back Isaac Galvan was the Orange Coast League MVP. Orange quarterback Daylen Pedroza earned Offensive MVP honors, while Orange sophomore linebacker Christopher Quiroga and Calvary Chapel senior lineman Nate Scott shared Defensive MVP accolades.

Santa Ana junior Joel Cortez was the league’s Most Valuable Lineman.

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