Grove pulls away to beat Eagles

GG at Estancia football for FridayEstancia scores on game’s first play and leads most of first half, before last first-half score propels Argonauts.The Estancia High football team pulled out all the stops to lead for most of the first half of Thursday’s nonleague clash with Garden Grove at Newport Harbor High.

But the Eagles couldn’t come up with any many defensive stops the final 26 minutes to drop a 40-19 decision to the visiting Argonauts.

The Eagles scored on the first offensive play of the game and exploded for 240 yards of offense before the homecoming intermission.

But an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive to end the half salvaged the momentum for Garden Grove, which then expanded its 20-19 halftime advantage to improve to 5-1. The Argonauts are ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division IX.

Estancia (1-5) seized the early lead when Ryan Watson flipped a lateral pass to sophomore backup quarterback Mike Morley in the right flat. Morley then threw a perfect strike to Matt Redding, who was alone behind the secondary to complete a 74-yard touchdown play.

“We tried to run that double pass the first play against Costa Mesa [a 20-14 Golden West League win for the Eagles on Sept. 23], but it didn’t work out,� Estancia Coach Brian Barnes said.

Connor McKendry added the Eagles’ first conversion kick of the season to follow the trick play with just 15 seconds elapsed.

The Eagles also executed a successful fake punt on fourth-and-seven from their own 35 to extend another first-quarter possession.

That march, however, fizzled and Garden Grove went 46 yards on just two plays to claim its first lead.

Keith Hurley, the Argonauts’ junior quarterback, sprinted 37 yards on an option keep to put the visitors on the scoreboard, though a failed conversion kick allowed the Eagles to keep the lead.

Estancia, which has struggled offensively all season, marched 81 yards for a touchdown on 12 plays after the Argonauts’ first score, with Morley starting the drive in relief of Watson.

Watson, however, returned three plays into the procession and capped it with a 3-yard pass to Edgar Vargas with 10:03 left to make it 13-6.

It didn’t stay that way too long as Grove went 67 yards on seven plays to knot the score with 7:12 left in the first half.

The Eagles, who had just one three-and-out in the first two periods, scored again with a big play when Watson lofted the ball to Redding, who caught it with his back to a defender near the sideline. Redding pulled away from the would-be tackler to cover the remaining 32 yards of the 60-yard connection.

But Grove, which hurt the Eagles all night with its option attack, mixed the run and the pass with some solid clock management to wisk its way down the field and regain the lead.

Hurley, who ran for 142 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 97 yards and one TD, hit Chris Hernandez for a 22-yard gain to the Estancia 1-yard line with five seconds left in the half.

Hurley then scored on a sneak to force the Eagles to leave the field disappointed, and trailing, 20-19.

“That definitely hurt us,� Barnes said of the TD on the final play of the half.

It was clear the disappointment carried over to the second half for the hosts.

“I think we started great in the first half, but we just ran out of juice,� Barnes said.

The Eagles managed just 45 yards and two first downs after intermission, though they trailed only 27-19 until the Argos added two scores in 64 seconds early in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Hurley capped a six-play, 36-yard touchdown drive with a 2-yard run then, after linebacker Jack McCullough returned an interception 8 yards to the Estancia 22, the visitors scored on a two-play drive.

Watson, who once again was forced to scramble to deliver most of his 29 pass attempts, completed 14 for 158 yards.

Watson also rushed for 34 yards on 12 carries as the Eagles’ 51 rushing yards was a single-game high this season. Estancia now has 98 yards rushing for the season.

Morley also completed a second pass to finish 2 for 2 for 76 yards.

Redding, a senior who has battled injuries that cost him playing time the last two games, finished with five receptions for 160 yards and two TDs for the Eagles.

With Hurley triggering the offense, Garden Grove produced 20 first downs and 420 of the game’s combined 705 yards.

Barnes said he continues to be pleased by his team’s improvement. The Eagles return to league play Oct. 21 at Ocean View.

Garden Grove 40, Estancia 19

SCORE BY QUARTERS