Estancia Defense Smothers Outmanned Laguna Beach

A strong running game, a smothering defense, only 18 players on the other team and a little luck helped Estancia High’s football team snap out of its offensive doldrums with a 30-0 Pacific Coast League victory over Laguna Beach Thursday night at Newport Harbor High.

It was 13 points more than Estancia had scored in a game this season, and only the third time the Eagles had made it to double figures.

Laguna Beach (2-5, 0-2 in league) never quit, but wound up on the short end of the numbers game. With only 18 players in uniform, Laguna Beach was simply outmanned by Estancia, which wore down the Artists in the second half.

“We’ve got a good defense,” Estancia Coach John Liebengood said. “The thing that’s been missing was our offense. If we get going we might win three more.”

The victory improved Estancia’s record to 4-2-1, 1-1.

“We’ve been in a drought the last few weeks,” Liebengood said. “We got the win. And we had fun doing it.”

Estancia churned out 177 yards rushing, including 68 in 14 carries by Christian Gomez. Quarterback Matt Johner ran for one touchdown and threw for another, covering 45 yards to Ty Schisler on the first play of the fourth quarter. Estancia led, 23-0, after that.

The Eagles’ defense limited Laguna Beach to 93 yards passing and 14 yards rushing. Wideout Eric Fegraus, the second-leading receiver in Orange County, caught five passes for 36 yards.

“We only had one guy (Fegraus) to worry about,” Liebengood said. “We had to contain him and keep him out of the end zone.”

By halftime, Estancia led, 17-0, after Mike Smith’s 47-yard field goal took a lucky bounce off the crossbar and fell good with six seconds left.