Frosh-Soph Battle for the Bell: Eagles’ win behind aerial attack

Estancia High’s freshmen and sophomores were either just settling into, or still heading toward kindergarten when Matt Redding was amassing impressive numbers as a senior receiver on the Eagles’ varsity football team in 2006.

But Redding, guiding the Eagles frosh-soph squad on an interim basis and calling the plays for the offense, tapped into a little nostalgia to help the visitors earn a 50-19 victory over Costa Mesa in the Baby Battle for the Bell on Thursday at Costa Mesa High.

Estancia quarterback Myles Witte threw five touchdown passes, four to receiver Jaycen Cash, as the Eagles compiled 204 passing yards to run away from their crosstown rival.

“I’m more of a pass-heavy guy,” said Redding, a two-time Daily Pilot Dream Team football honoree who caught 44 passes for 1,045 yards (a 23.8 average) and 12 touchdowns as a senior before going on to play at Orange Coast College and Bethany College. “As a receiver, I always liked throwing the ball.”

Witte obviously concurs. The left-hander completed 15 of 23 attempts, including scoring tosses of 46, 40, 15, 14 and five yards.

Cash, who used his speed to gain separation and his determination and leaping ability to haul in passes when little separation existed, finished with eight catches for 151 yards.

The Eagles (2-6) marched 65 yards on 13 plays with the opening kickoff to take the lead for good, as Witte capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Damien Lambert.

After Costa Mesa (3-5) fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return (forced by Julian Rivas and recovered by Gannon Griffin), Estancia went 22 yards on five plays to up the lead to 14-0 and complete the quarter without allowing Costa Mesa to run an offensive play.

Estancia scored on four of its five first-half possessions, including a 46-yard bomb from Witte to Cash with 28 seconds left in the half, to forge a 36-7 advantage.

Mesa scored on its first two second-half possessions and when safety Bryan Hernandez came up with an interception in the end zone to maintain the hosts’ momentum, the Mustangs had a chance to cut further into the lead.

But Cash made a leaping interception two plays later to set up a five-play, 52-yard touchdown drive that allowed the Eagles to establish a 44-19 cushion.

Nathan Pacheco (14 carries for 77 yards) had a 13-yard touchdown run, while Timmy Kibin scored on a three-yard carry to add to the aerial scoring strikes for the Eagles.

Cash also caught a two-point conversion pass, while Alex Parias had three two-point conversion runs.

Costa Mesa, for which Christopher Abac and Alonzo Mance recovered fumbles, was led offensively by sophomore quarterback Blake Junker.

Junker, often scrambling from the pocket, rushed for a team-best 85 yards on 10 carries. He also threw for 73 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown bomb to freshman wideout Samari Chandler that pulled the hosts within 36-19 with 5:35 left in the third quarter.

Chandler scored on a three-yard run early in the second half and freshman Isaac Tupailesa, a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder who started at left offensive tackle and at noseguard, scored on a three-yard run from jumbo formation to open the Mustangs’ scoring.

Frosh-Soph Battle for the Bell

Estancia 50, Costa Mesa 19

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Estancia 12 – 22 – 0 – 14 – 50

Costa Mesa 0 – 7 – 12 – 0 – 19

FIRST QUARTER

Est – Lambert 5 pass from Witte (Cash pass from Witte), 4:33.

Est – Cash 14 pass from Witte (pass failed), 0:00.

SECOND QUARTER

Est – Pacheco 13 run (pass failed), 10:12.

Est – Cash 15 pass from Witte (Parias run), 6:06.

CM – Tupailesa 3 run (Olmedo kick), 2:20.

Est – Cash 46 pass from Witte (Parias run), 0:28.

THIRD QUARTER

CM – Junker 3 run (pass failed), 10:51.

CM – Chandler 43 pass from Junker (pass failed), 5:35.

FOURTH QUARTER

Est – Kibin 3 run (Parias run), 8:57.

Est – Cash 40 pass from Witte (run failed), 5:58.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Est – Pacheco, 14-77, 1 TD; Parias, 5-76.

CM – Junker, 10-85.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Est – Witte, 15-23-1, 204, 5 TDs.

CM – Junker, 6-16-1, 73.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Est – Cash, 8-151, 4 TDs.

CM – Chandler, 3-43, 1 TD.