Eagles win again

LAGUNA BEACH — The last time Estancia High’s football team played Laguna Beach, the Eagles won 17-6 last year, but both teams struggled throughout most of the game.

The Eagles and Breakers both came into Friday night’s game looking to improve on their Orange Coast League records. Estancia needed the win to remain in the hunt to repeat as Orange Coast League champs while Laguna Beach was still in search of its first league win.

In a league game that mattered to both teams, the Eagles came out on top, 31-14, at Laguna Beach High School.

Estancia (3-5, 2-1 in league) remains in the league title hunt along with Godinez, which beat Costa Mesa, 27-6. The two teams, which are one full game back behind league leader Calvary Chapel (3-0 in league), meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium. The Eagles stayed in second place after playing spoiler to Laguna Beach’s homecoming game.

The difference maker for the Eagles was their defense. The Eagles, which dropped the Breakers to 2-6, 0-3, recorded two fumbles in the first half thanks to linebacker Jay Enciso. Each fumble led to Estancia scoring. The first sack came in the first quarter when Enciso recovered a fumble at the Estancia 45-yard line. The Eagles got to the Breakers’ 21-yard line after the first quarter ended, but were only able to settle for a field goal in the opening minutes of the second quarter, to make it, 10-7.

The second fumble came at the 9:49 mark when Enciso recovered the ball in Laguna Beach territory. Eventually, running back Jordan Balcazar ran it in for a 15-yard touchdown for a 17-7 lead.

The teams exchanged touchdowns after Balcazar’s score, and the teams went into halftime with Estancia leading, 24-14.

Estancia put the game away in the third quarter thanks to Balcazar running in for another touchdown. After that, neither team scored and the Eagles emerged victorious.

“We just need to play some sound football for four quarters,” Estancia coach Mike Bargas said.

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Estancia 31, Laguna Beach 14

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Estancia 7-17-7-0---31

Laguna Beach7-7-0-0---14

FIRST QUARTER

LB - Armstrong 15 pass from Simon (Cracknell kick)

E - O’Daly 65 pass from C. Brown (Hernandez kick)

SECOND QUARTER

E - (Hernandez 41 FG)

E - Balcazar 15 pass from C. Brown (Hernandez kick)

LB – Simon 5 run (Cracknell kick)

E – O’Daly 15 pass from C. Brown (Hernandez kick)

THIRD QUARTER

E – Balcazar 5 run (Hernandez kick)