Friday night lights

Corona del Mar vs. Estancia

7 p.m. at Newport Harbor

Both teams could use a victory, but would still achieve their goals (a

PCL crown for CdM and a CIF playoff berth for Estancia) by winning their

final regular-season contests next week. CdM quarterback Joe Barber has

been red hot of late while Estancia secondary has had trouble staving off

flames. Estancia offense has been productive, but will likely need to be

at optimum efficiency to keep pace with the Sea Kings, who are 37 points

away from posting the highest-scoring regular season in the program’s

39-year varsity history (they come in with 233 points, while the 1995 Sea

Kings posted 269, before eventually advancing to the CIF Division V

semifinals).

Costa Mesa vs. University

7 p.m. at Irvine High

Mesa is dinged up and depressed after likely seeing playoff berth

disappear beneath valiant Estancia comeback last week. Trojans,

meanwhile, are rolling toward shot at rare league title. All-CIF baseball

player Jay Nichols is known for hitting in the spring, but the senior Uni

quarterback’s pitches have produced the headlines this fall. How bad are

things going for Mesa? Coach Jerry Howell injured his knee teaching P.E.

last week and the damage will require postseason surgery.

Newport Harbor vs. Cathedral City

7:30 p.m. at Cathedral City High

In a matchup Jerry Dunphy would love (“From the desert to the sea

...”) the Sailors figure to show why Orange County garners such respect

in Southland football circles. Garrett Troncale, Ian Banigan and Jim

Rothwell should bolt from defensive line starting blocks to harry Lions’

run-and-shoot quarterback Blake Moorman, while Tars’ methodical offensive

muscle works to whither away Lions’ courage. Team will return Friday

night, but some boosters plan to stay over and enjoy golf amenities.