Estancia Football Preview

CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs

First round

Estancia (7-3) vs. Los Amigos (7-3)

When/where: Friday, 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium

Key Eagles: Sr. RB Robert Murtha (1,381 yards rushing and 14 TDs on 193 carries); Sr. WR/KR/DB Ben Beck (three combined kickoff/punt returns for TDs, 373 yards receiving and three TDs); Sr. CB/WR Levi Stillman (team-high six INTs); Sr. LB Colby Koste (team-high 112 tackles, two INTs).

Key Lobos: Sr. WR/DB Jerry Saldivar (1,960 yards rushing and 22 TDs on 237 carries); Sr. WR/DB Noe Perez (568 yards receiving and six TDs on 31 catches); Sr. WR/OLB Ricky Torres (79 tackles).

Breakdown: Estancia and Los Amigos appear similar in a number of ways. Both teams were 7-3, and both finished second in their respective leagues (Orange Coast and Garden Grove). Both teams also boast strong running backs in Murtha and Saldivar ... Saldivar comes into the game second in Orange County in rushing yards, and he has topped 100 yards in all but one game this year ... The Eagles and Lobos also have a high number of common opponents, four, in Costa Mesa, Godinez, Loara and Ocean View. Estancia went 4-0 against the common opponents while Los Amigos went 2-2, defeating Godinez and Ocean View but losing to Loara and Costa Mesa ... This is the third playoff game in a row that Los Amigos has played a Newport-Mesa school. The Lobos defeated Costa Mesa, 38-7, last year in the first round before losing to eventual champion Corona del Mar, 45-7 ... Estancia Coach Mike Bargas said Thursday that senior safety Cole Mensinger, who suffered a minor knee injury last week against Calvary Chapel, will not play this week. Bargas said that senior Ben Beck, who already had been rotating in at safety, will play more on defense this week in Mensinger’s absence ... Bargas said that senior offensive lineman/linebacker Adahir Aguilera (knee), who returned last week, got more reps this week in practice and is expected to play again Friday in a backup role.

— Matt Szabo