Balance Keys Estancia Victory

People know the Estancia High School football team can run the ball. Friday night the Eagles showed they could kick it, too, in a 26-7 victory over Laguna Hills at Orange Coast College.

Senior tailback Josh Wojtkiewicz carried the ball 17 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. His running mate, senior Gary Burrows had 69 yards on 14 carries.

But Estancia (2-0) also benefitted from kicker Alex Vazquez and the passing of senior quarterback Danny Ucker.

Vazquez had two 23-yard field goals and two extra points and Ucker completed 14 of 17 passes for 131 yards.

“Our goal this year was to have a balanced attack,” said Estancia Coach John Liebengood. “That way, people can’t key on (Burrows) and (Wojtkiewicz).”

Credit also goes to the Estancia defense. It shut down Laguna Hills most of the night with one mistake.

Laguna Hills tailback Darrin Chapman broke loose on a trap up the middle and dashed 71 yards for the loser’s only score early in the third quarter.

“We’ve given up seven points in two games, so I think you could say our defense is strong,” said Liebengood. “Except for that trap, we stopped them all night.”