Week 1 High School Football Preview: Estancia vs. Loara

When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Western High

Key Eagles: Sr. OLB/WR Hunter Mensinger; Jr. RB/CB Trevor Pacheco; Sr. LB Deshandre Kerkoff

Key Saxons: Jr. QB Matt Blackney; Jr. RB Jiggy Mendoza; Sr. MLB Asher Lev

Breakdown: Estancia hits the road for its season opener … Eagles coach Mike Bargas said the team has been lucky with its health, emerging unscathed with no major injuries after last week’s tri-scrimmage against two bigger schools, El Modena and Santa Ana … The Eagles have defeated Loara in their season opener each of the last three seasons, including last year’s 44-20 triumph at Jim Scott Stadium … Estancia is 7-3 in Bargas’ tenure in season openers … Loara went 1-9 last season, though its 34-7 victory over Magnolia in Week 2 was the Saxons’ first win since 2013 … In Blackney and Mendoza, Loara returns both its quarterback and leading rusher from last season.

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