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Football Preview: Estancia vs. Santiago

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Estancia (8-2) vs. Santiago (7-3)

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

Key Eagles: So. RB/CB Dylan Laurent (726 yards, 13 TDs rushing); Sr. FB/MLB Tyler Thomas; Sr. TE/OLB Ronnie Urquiza; Sr. WR/CB Dalton O’Daly (27 receptions, 512 yards, 4 TDs).

Key Cavaliers: Sr. RB/DB Junior Ortega (846 yards, 6 TDs rushing); Sr. TE/LB Mario Monroy (116 total tackles); Jr. RB/LB Eligio Quintero (80 total tackles).

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Breakdown: Estancia makes its seventh straight trip to the CIF Southern Section playoffs under Coach Mike Bargas, riding a seven-game win streak. Bargas is 2-7 in the playoffs, as the Eagles last won a playoff game in 2011. That was Estancia’s first playoff win in 31 years and that was the year the Eagles reached the semifinals for the first time in school history … Estancia will be without senior captain Ronnie Urquiza, a tight end and outside linebacker. He was not cleared to play after suffering a concussion in the second quarter of last week’s game. Ivan Perez and Omar Gutierrez will fill in for Urquiza as they did during last week’s win ... Estancia is the Orange Coast League champion, its fourth league title under Bargas, who is in his eighth season … Eagles ended regular season ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division … Estancia’s seven-game win streak is its longest since 2011. The Eagles have not won eight straight games since 1989 when that team went 10-0 during the regular season … Santiago is an at large-entry from the Garden Grove League, after finishing fourth in the league … Teams have two common opponents, as both beat Godinez and Costa Mesa. Santiago beat Godinez, 13-7, and Costa Mesa, 16-13. Estancia defeated Godinez, 35-14, and Costa Mesa, 28-3.

— Steve Virgen

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