Estancia Defense Shuts Down Canyon

COSTA MESA —  Two early touchdowns stood up for Estancia, which upset previously undefeated Canyon, 14-9, in a nonleague game Friday night at Orange Coast College.

The Eagles (2-3) survived three turnovers and 12 penalties. Their defense held Canyon, which had scored 143 points in its first four games, to three first downs.

In 31 plays from scrimmage, Canyon (4-1) netted positive yardage only eight times.

Estancia took the opening kickoff and consumed the 6 minutes 43 seconds in a 12-play, 65-yard drive that culminated with a three-yard touchdown run by Manny Solis.

The next time the Eagles got the ball, they drove 69 yards in 10 plays, the touchdown coming on a 24-yard pass from Matt Johner to David Barnhill.

The Comanches got on the board in the second quarter after a 53-yard punt by David Lawrence pinned Estancia at its seven-yard line.

A fumbled exchange on a handoff put the ball back at the one-yard line, and when the Eagles could not move the ball, Johner downed the ball in the end zone for a safety.

Joel Reese broke an 87-yard touchdown run on the second play of the third quarter for Canyon.

With five minutes to play in the game, Canyon moved to midfield, where sophomore quarterback Adam Hoover called an audible, switching from a run to a pass play on fourth-and-inches. He was sacked, extinguishing the Comanches’ final threat.