Eagles win is a rush

Estancia finds its running game, piling up 219 yards in a rout of Saddleback to stay alive in the Golden West League playoff hunt.COSTA MESA -- Estancia High changed its fortunes on the ground, and it just may have changed its fortunes for the playoffs.

The Eagles had compiled 144 rushing yards this season through eight games. On Thursday night, they showed a new dimension, running for 219 yards in a 34-7 Golden West League victory over Saddleback.

“This is the best effort we have had establishing the run all season,” Estancia Coach Brian Barnes said.

Ezequiel Villalvazo was the star of the offense for the Eagles, gaining 247 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the win. And much like his nickname, he made it look easy.

“Easy (Ezequiel) was the man tonight,” Eagles quarterback Ryan Watson said.

Villalvazo scored the first touchdown of the night on a quarterback option that netted 30 yards. Watson sprinted to his right and pitched to Villalvazo, just before taking a hit from a Roadrunners linebacker.

The speedy senior ran 30 yards down the sideline and narrowly made it into the end zone, dragging a Saddleback defender with him the final two yards. A two-point conversion made it 8-0.

“This was my first game playing tailback,” said Villalvazo. “I was kind of nervous, but it worked out well.”

Saddleback scored late in the second quarter to cut the lead to 8-7. On the 81-yard drive, running back Michael Deckard carried three times for 63 yards. Fullback Peter Guillen scored on a bruising 23-yard run with 2:27 left in the first half.

It didn’t take long for Estancia to respond as the game moved toward halftime. A short kickoff by Saddleback gave the Eagles ideal field position. A first down moved the ball to the Saddleback 46-yard line.

On the next play, Watson threw a lateral to reserve quarterback Mike Morley, lined up at receiver. Morley found a wide-open Alex LaGrand for a 45-yard score with 50 seconds remaining in the half.

The offensive outburst continued after halftime as the Eagles scored on their first two drives of the second half.

On their third play of the second half, Watson rolled to his right to find Villalvazo on a crossing route. Villalvazo outran two defenders, with the held of a crushing downfield block from LaGrand.

On their next drive, the Eagles marched 80 yards in 12 plays for another touchdown. Matt Redding was key in the drive, rushing for 30 yards and grabbing an 8-yard reception.

The defense for Estancia held the Roadrunners to 244 total yards in the contest. Linebacker Clayton Mills had three sacks in the game.

“We really stuck together,” Mills said. “Our defense really fed off each other.”

Estancia (2-7, 2-3 in league) faces Santa Ana next Friday at Orange Coast College. With the victory over Saddleback, the Eagles can only be eliminated from the playoff chase with a Costa Mesa victory over Orange, or Ocean View wins against Orange and Westminster.

It would be the team’s first playoff appearance since 2000.

“The kids had a great week of practice, because they had a great incentive to win tonight [with the possibility for playoffs],” Barnes said.

ESTANCIA 34, SADDLEBACK 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS