Estancia Wins, Toasts Perfect Regular Season

Estancia High School Coach John Liebengood got the traditional victory shower after his team put the final touches on a perfect regular season with a 10-0 victory over Saddleback Friday night--then got a bottle of 1985 Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc to put in the cooler.

The vineyard? Estancia, of course.

And the defensive unit that earned Liebengood the Sea View League championship and the first 10-0 record in school history (5-0 in league play) was pure Estancia as well. The defense, which has allowed only three touchdowns, produced its sixth shutout of the season against host Saddleback at Orange Coast College.

The offense had just enough to win. Flanker Mike Aulet set up both Estancia scores with two acrobatic catches.

Aulet’s over-the-shoulder grab on the left sideline in the first quarter was good for 23 yards and gave Estancia the ball on Saddleback’s 4-yard line. Three plays later, Alex Vazquez booted a 20-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Aulet leaped high above Robert Reyes, a 6-foot-2 Saddleback cornerback, to pull down a 34-yard pass from Danny Ucker at the Saddleback one. Halfback Josh Wojtkiewicz punched across from there for the game’s only touchdown.

“Good athletes help you win,” Liebengood said. “Fortunately, good athletes can make coaches look good.”

Saddleback needed to win the game for a shot at the playoffs. The Roadrunners finished 4-6 overall and 2-3 in League.