Eagles aim to see progress

The Estancia High football team knows it’s a different team than it was last year.

The Eagles (4-1) will try to show that to Ocean View (1-3) tonight at 7, at Ocean View High.

Last year, it was Ocean View that beat Estancia, 20-12.

“We try to take every game the same each week,” Estancia Coach Brian Barnes said. “But, I think the coaches and players will have a little extra something this week. We probably should have won the game last year.”

The Eagles, ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division, have scored a combined 192 points in their four wins.

But Ocean View appears to have a solid defense despite its record.

The Seahawks have allowed just 33 points in their last three games, although two of those games were a 13-6 loss to University and a 14-0 loss to Bolsa Grande last week.

That’s the same Bolsa Grande team that Estancia beat, 56-0, in its second game, but Barnes said his team isn’t overlooking anyone.

“I think it should be a very good football game,” he said. “They’re a very good team for being 1-3. They did get beat by Bolsa Grande last week, but I hope our kids don’t take them for granted. I think Ocean View’s a very good football team.”

Estancia has established a power running game this season, led by tailback Rafael Alejandre and fullback Danny Orozco.

Alejandre has rushed for 506 yards in the Eagles’ five games, including 351 yards and four touchdowns in Estancia’s last two games.

“Our kids are getting more confident, and we’re trying to make a statement,” Barnes said. “Last year, running the football was something we didn’t do very well. But that one-two combination [of Alejandre and Orozco] is a heck of a combination at this level. And our linemen getting stronger is paying off.”

Barnes said Ocean View typically plays a four-four or five-two on defense.

On offense, the Seahawks use a two-back formation, and quarterback Dana Maley isn’t afraid to get out of the pocket and rush for yardage.

Maley, a junior, rushed for a team-high 54 yards in the Seahawks’ loss to Bolsa Grande. But Estancia has faced similar scramble-minded quarterbacks this season, and done a solid job of containing them.

“Until people figure out how to beat us doing that, we’re going to keep [containing] it,” Barnes said. “I think our kids on defense are getting more confident. And the more confident and more comfortable you are, the better you’ll play.”

Junior Connor McKendry, who typically starts at right tackle and defensive end for Estancia, has been sick in practice and will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Junior Contreras on offense and Sean Ulrich on defense.

Davis Lettieri, a 5-foot-11, 255-pound sophomore, is also slated to start at right guard.

Barnes said receivers Eddie Tomasek (back) and Diego Carrasco (ankle) are both banged up, but he expects both to play tonight. Carrasco has also started at cornerback.

Still, the Eagles as a unit remain relatively healthy.

“We’re definitely not having the injuries that we had last year at this time,” Barnes said.