Late Score Lifts Estancia to Nonleague Victory

John Aldrete caught a 43-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds remaining in the game to give Estancia a 34-32 victory over Montclair Prep Friday night in a nonleague football game at Newport Harbor High.

“I knew we were going to win,” Estancia Coach Dave Perkins said. “I didn’t know how, but we kept moving the ball all night long, so I thought we were going to score. I also knew we had to throw sooner or later.”

Estancia made up for its three interceptions with one pass. Eagle quarterback Jeremy Valdes connected over the middle with Aldrete, who got to the sidelines and then into the end zone.

Marshall Hendricks led all rushers with 199 yards in 21 carries and scored three touchdowns--on runs of six, three and 82 yards--for the Eagles (6-3).

Estancia took the largest lead of the game in the third quarter, when Hendricks found a huge hole on the right side of the line and raced 82 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles ahead, 22-14.

Gary Sonkur rushed for 107 yards in 21 carries and had one touchdown to lead Montclair Prep (7-2). Teammate Jerome Dennis scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards in four carries.

Estancia returns to Pacific Coast League play on Thursday, when the Eagles meet University at Irvine High.