Eagles aiming for revenge

Estancia High football coach Mike Bargas was cautious about revealing too much of the defensive plan Eagles coordinator Dave Holland is preparing for tonight’s 7 o’clock nonleague game against Magnolia.

But there is virtually zero mystery about the offensive plan utilized by the Sentinels (0-2), coached by former Estancia and Costa Mesa head man Dave Perkins.

“They’re fairly one-dimensional,” Bargas said of the smashmouth double wing scheme Magnolia will deploy at La Palma Park’s Glover Stadium. “But you’ve got to stop it.”

Stopping the Sentinels was problematic last season for the Eagles, who surrendered 491 rushing yards, 317 of which came from then-senior Robert Cruz, who scored five touchdowns in a 58-12 thrashing at Estancia.

“Last year, they had our number,” said Bargas, who believes some of his players are anxious to turn the tables from that defensive debacle.

“I hope [last year’s blowout loss, tied for the third-highest point total allowed in Estancia history] will be a little bit of a battle cry for the guys who were here last year,” Bargas said. “I think the kids have short memories, but, as a coaching staff, we surely don’t.”

A win for the Eagles (2-1) would be their third straight. Estancia football rooters would need a long memory to recall a winning streak longer than that. A three-game winning streak would match the longest recorded by Estancia since it opened the 1996 season with five straight wins.

Senior tailback Alex Abalos and senior quarterback Alek Kirshner are on their way to a memorable season so far.

Abalos produced 193 yards and two touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts in the Sept. 17 win at Buena Park and he has 377 rushing yards on the season.

Kirshner, after a modest opener, has completed 18 of 27 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns the last two games. He has yet to throw an interception and has earned praise from Bargas, who coaches the quarterbacks, for his marked improvement.

“I think he’s getting a grasp of the system and playing smart football,” Bargas said. “It’s more Alek than the coaching.”

Junior receiver-free safety Matt Carlyle and junior defensive end-tight end Omar Gutierrez have also been consistent standouts for the Eagles.

Carlyle leads the team with eight receptions for 76 yards and his three interceptions, including two last week, are one more than the Eagles had last season.

Gutierrez, a Newport-Mesa Dream Team performer on defense as a sophomore, is once again beating blockers with regularity. He also has six receptions for 50 yards.

Gutierrez figures to have a little more help up front on defense, though Bargas was reluctant to get too detailed about Holland’s plan.

Magnolia, which made the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the first time in 24 seasons last year, has been outscored, 64-24, in losses to San Dimas, ranked No. 2 in the CIF Mid-Valley Division, and Katella.

Junior Devante Bates (115 rushing yards), senior Marvin Magallanes (103 yards) are the two primary ballcarriers for Magnolia. Sophomore Waseem Akbar (six for 16 for 54 yards with one interceptions and one TD) has been the quarterback.

Perkins coached Estancia for three seasons (a 14-18 record from 1998 to 2000).

A Newport Harbor High graduate, Perkins guided Costa Mesa to a 20-12 record the next three seasons.