Estancia Football Preview

CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs

First round

Estancia (8-2) vs. Magnolia (4-6)

When/where: Friday night, 7 at Jim Scott Stadium

Key Eagles: Jr. RB Robert Murtha (1,639 yards and 13 touchdowns on 218 carries); Sr. OT Zach Bateman; Sr. DE Andy Ugalde (80 tackles and 11 sacks)

Key Sentinels: Sr. QB Waseem Akbar (1,154 yards, seven TDs and eight INTs on 76-of-186 passing); Sr. RB Hector Escobar (568 yards and eight TDs on 112 carries); Sr. WR Jerrad Wade (30 catches for 402 yards and TDs)

Breakdown: Estancia opens the first round of the playoffs looking for its first postseason win in 31 years … Estancia has lost its last 11 playoff contests, including 10 straight playoff openers … The Eagles earned the No. 4 seed after capping back-to-back undefeated Orange Coast League titles … Magnolia qualified for the postseason by clinching third place in the Orange League with a 38-30 win against Katella in the regular-season finale last week … Running back Robert Murtha is 40 yards away from tying the Estancia school’s single-season rushing record of 1,679 yards, which he set last year … The Eagles have won five straight games … Estancia and Magnolia have split their 18 matchups.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza