Eagles to air it out

The Estancia High football team is averaging roughly the width of the

football each time it runs this season.

Indeed, 47 rushing yards on 113 carries, five inches per attempt,

is hardly a foundation on which to construct a winning season.

But the Eagles are coming off consecutive games with positive

rushing yards and first-year Coach Brian Barnes said progress is

better than the alternative when it comes to forging some semblance

of a running game.

Still, the Eagles (1-4) plan to rely on their passing game when

they play host to Garden Grove (4-1) in a nonleague game tonight at 7

at Newport Harbor High.

“We should be able to throw the ball pretty well,” said Barnes,

who has seen consistent productivity from his senior quarterback,

Ryan Watson.

Watson has completed 52 of 102 attempts for 640 yards and five

touchdowns this season. He has thrown only two interceptions and his

19 completions in last week’s 50-6 loss to Orange tied a 25-year-old

school single-game record, Barnes said.

Watson is also a threat to run. His 64 rushing yards in a Sept. 30

victory over Costa Mesa are the highest single-game output by an

Eagle this season. With one rushing touchdown, Watson has had a hand

in all six of the Eagles’ offensive TDs.

Watson’s favorite receivers have been junior Matt Redding (15

catches for 240 yards) and senior Ezequiel Villalvazo (12 receptions

for 158 yards and one TD).

Garden Grove, sitting alone atop the Garden Grove League standings

with a 2-0 league mark, is looking to continue the program’s

two-season upswing. The Argonauts have won 12 of their last 16.

The two teams share one common opponent this season. Buena Park

handed Garden Grove its only defeat, a 7-0 verdict Sept. 23.

Estancia fell to Buena Park, 19-0, Sept. 16.

Garden Grove would appear to have an advantage on defense. It has

surrendered 62 points in five games, while Estancia has given up 130

points to its five opponents.

ESTANCIA STARTERS

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OFFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

8 Ryan Watson 6-0 185 Sr. QB

47 Clayton Mills 6-2 205 Sr. RB

3 Eze. Villalvazo 5-10 170 Sr. WR 88 Matt Redding 6-2 185 Jr. WR

10 Tim Morley 6-2 180 Jr. SR

2 Edgar Vargas 5-7 160 Jr. SR

52 Miguel Cotero 6-2 225 Sr. LT

77 Jesse Herrera 5-9 225 Sr. LG

50 Nelson Leon 6-2 210 Sr. C

54 Sean Ulrich 6-2 225 So. RG

71 C. McKendry 6-5 240 So. RT

*--*

*--*

DEFENSE

No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr. Po.

45 Rafael Alejandre 5-9 175 Jr. DE

52 Miguel Cotero 6-2 225 Sr. NG

60 Walter Echanique 6-0 255 Sr. DT

40 Danny Orozco 5-10 195 Jr. DE 7 Kyle Bannon 5-9 180 Sr. LB

50 Nelson Leon 6-2 210 Sr. LB

10 Tim Morley 6-2 180 Jr. LB

19 Lucas Fassari 6-2 175 Sr. CB

3 Eze. Villalvazo 5-7 160 Sr. CB

47 Clayton Mills 6-2 205 Sr. SS

88 Matt Redding 6-2 185 Jr. FS

*--*