DAVE JERANKO

Steve Virgen

Whenever there was an important football game for the Estancia High

Eagles, Dave Jeranko became excited.

He knew he would be a key player as the starting quarterback in an

option offense. But what took place on the field wasn’t the only

reason he loved the games that had that playoff-type aura about them.

Take the season-opening game against Edison, for example, in 1977.

Edison was the powerhouse, the standard for most prep football

teams. But the Eagles were mindful they could win. Their coaches,

namely head man Jim Bratton, made them believe.

“Our coaches really played some mind games with us to get us hyped

up for that game,” Jeranko said. “They took us out to watch ‘Rocky’

the night before and they made up a letter from Sylvester Stallone.

He was wishing he could be at the game. It wasn’t real, but the guys

just sucked it up.”

Jeranko also said the Estancia coaches created a fake news

article, which was also used as motivation. The story featured a

quote from one of Edison’s star players, who said he was glad that he

was opening up with a soft opponent.

Apparently, all of the gimmicks worked. Estancia won.

“The celebration was very enthusiastic,” Jeranko said. “We just

went berserk.”

The victory was one of many highlights Jeranko enjoyed while at

Estancia, where he also played defensive back and competed in track

and field, scoring points in the shot put and the long jump.

As the Eagles quarterback, he earned second-team All-Century

League honors in his senior year. In addition, he developed

friendships that continue to be a big part of his life.

Cal Shores, who played at Estancia, was an assistant coach when

Jeranko played for the Eagles. After Jeranko graduated from the

University of Idaho, Shores helped Jeranko get into the insurance

business. They were office partners for 15 years.

The game of football helped Jeranko in many areas of his life. He

discovered his love for the game when he was 8. That’s when his

father, Stan, took young Dave to an NFL game at the Los Angeles

Coliseum, where the Rams were taking on the Packers.

“I remember as if it was yesterday, walking through the tunnel

into the stadium,” Jeranko said. “[Football has] always been a

passion of mine.”

Jeranko played all levels of football except for pro. He started

with the Newport-Mesa Jr. All-American program and, after Estancia,

he played for Orange Coast College. As a highlight with the Pirates,

Jeranko remembered throwing three touchdown passes and running for

two more to lead a comeback win over Golden West.

“It was 24-3 in the first half, but we came back,” Jeranko said.

Jeranko, the latest Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame honoree,

earned a scholarship to play with the Vandals at Idaho.

Now 44, he lives in San Clemente with his wife, Eileen. They have

two daughters and Jeranko’s nephew is Ian Morton, who just finished

his junior football season at Estancia.