Estancia football tops Pioneer, posts first win of season

WHITTIER — Estancia finally found some footing in a football season that hasn’t started as desired, putting together something close to a complete game Friday to claim its first victory of the campaign with a 37-21 romp at winless Whittier Pioneer.

The Eagles, described by 20th-year head coach Mike Bargas before the game as a puzzle in which the pieces didn’t fit, as a “Sybil” — no idea which personality will show up — moved the ball effectively through the air and on the ground, mostly shut down their foe’s attack until the outcome was secure, and left happier than they’ve been since the middle of last season.

“It’s nice to win like that,” said Bargas, who notched his 99th victory at Estancia. “It’s a lot easier to watch film on Saturdays when you win ... We’ll enjoy this one until tomorrow morning.”

Estancia (1-3) piled up 414 yards on offense after amassing just 508 across their first three outings.

Kai Bargas, the coach’s son, ran a bristling passing attack — throwing for 277 yards and three touchdowns while targeting Juan Silva and Carter Rodermund for big plays — made simpler by Luman Graham’s punishing inside running.

Pioneer (0-4) was permitted just 101 yards — nearly half on three plays — and five first downs until Estancia extended its lead to 31-8 early in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles scored on their first three possessions, on six of nine in all, and picked up multiple first downs on all but one drive, a short push ahead of Jesus Castillo’s 24-yard first-quarter field goal to make it 10-0.

They looked not dissimilar from the teams that made successive CIF Southern Section playoff trips — reached the Division 12 quarterfinals two years ago — and went 5-1 to start last season.

The difference?

“Today, we definitely worked as a team,” Kai Bargas said. “Defense did their job, linemen blocked, wide receivers caught balls. We just really clicked today, and I think that’s what we’ve been needing these past few weeks.”

They finally connected.

“We started working more as a team and then loving on each other,” said Silva, who caught seven balls for 129 yards and two touchdowns. “I think after getting a loss, it obviously hurts, but us being with each other and loving on each other, it’s really helped us out.”

Estancia drove 80 yards on 10 plays, seven of them Graham runs, to go ahead when Rodermund slipped his cover for a 25-yard, end-zone catch, added Castillo’s field goal near the end of the quarter, then made it 16-0 on Bargas’ 42-yard bomb to Silva.

Graham, who ran for 105 yards on 25 carries, bashed in from the 1-yard line on the second half’s opening drive and Silva caught Nathan Burciaga’s 12-yard halfback pass four plays into the fourth quarter — and five plays after Max Aragon’s fumble recovery at the Titans’ 27-yard line — to make it 31-8.

Bargas connected with Nick Hulce on the Eagles’ last score, sandwiched between Pioneer touchdowns, in an often-frantic final 11 minutes, after long completions to Silva and Nolan Piesik’s leaping grab into the red zone.

Pioneer, rebuilding under first-year coach Andre Ortega after graduating most of the Division 14 champions two years ago and runner-up last season, relied on freshman quarterback Jayson Villa and receiver Joaquin Angulo, who connected 10 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns, and running back Eli Ruano (82 total yards).

Mike Bargas saw a lot of good things from his team, which plays Friday at Brentwood (3-2), then begins Omicron League play Oct. 1 at Buena Park (0-4).

“We did some bad things, too. There’s some slop,” he said. “I thought defense played well. Kai connected on some good balls. It got a little messy [with 249 yards combined on 22 penalties, a half-dozen of them unsportsmanlike-conduct flags], and our kids didn’t retaliate. That’s a big thing right there, but the win’s the biggest thing. It’s just nice to be on the winning side again ...

“Hopefully, it’s a springboard. You know, we’re down three games, so it’ll be good to come back and clean up the messes. It’s just prepping us.”

Nonleague

Estancia 37, Pioneer 21

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Estancia 10 - 6 - 8 - 13 — 37

Pioneer 0 - 8 - 0 - 13 — 21

FIRST QUARTER

E — Rodermund 25 pass from Bargas (Castillo kick), 5:58.

E — Castillo 24 FG, 1:47.

SECOND QUARTER

E — Silva 42 pass from Bargas (kick failed), 9:32.

P — Angulo 18 pass from Villa (Angulo pass from Villa), 5:25.

THIRD QUARTER

E — Graham 1 run (Romualdo run), 8:44.

FOURTH QUARTER

E — Silva 12 pass from Burciaga (Castillo kick), 11:44.

P — Angulo 24 pass from Villa (Montes kick), 10:01.

E — Hulce 4 pass from Bargas (kick failed), 7:37.

P — Angulo 10 pass from Villa (kick failed), 3:27.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

E — Graham, 25-105, 1 TD; Bargas, 2-7; Burciaga, 3-6; Team, 1-3; Moreno, 1-2; Silva, 1-2.

P — E. Ruano, 14-60; Villa, 4-22; McCoy, 1-1; Montes, 1-(-8).

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

E — Bargas, 19-29-0, 277, 3 TDs; Burciaga, 1-1-0, 12, 1 TD.

P — Villa, 13-22-0, 130, 3 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

E — Silva, 7-129, 2 TDs; Rodermund, 3-77, 1 TD; Piesik, 3-28; Wright, 3-26; Hulce, 2-21, 1 TD; Graham, 2-12.

P — Angulo, 10-101, 3 TDs; Ruano, 2-22; Perez, 1-7.