HOCO FOOTball game!
October 17, 2025 | Jeff Brown, Football player
October 17, 2025| Home student section, Jim Scott Stadium.
October 17, 2025| Football player Jeff Brown
Estancia football faced off against Los Amigos, located in Fountain Valley, on October 17th at 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium for this year’s highly anticipated homecoming game. “It’s good to play at home and be in your backyard,” said head coach Bargas about the homecoming matchup. With the energy of the crowd behind them, the Eagles knew they needed to stay locked in and ready to play. As Coach Bargas mentioned, “they feed off the crowd and vice versa.”
Friday night’s matchup kicked off with a tense first quarter, as both teams battled but remained scoreless. The pace picked up in the second quarter when Estancia struck first to put points on the board. Senior Bennett Molica (#0) made the first touchdown of the night, followed by a successful extra point from senior Gabe Johner. The crowd erupted as the Eagles headed into halftime with a 7-0 lead over the Lobos.
During the extended halftime, fans were treated to a show-stopping combined performance from cheer, band, and color guard. Estancia cheer was represented by varsity, JV, and song teams, while the band—led by Daniel Monihan—performed “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé and Jay-Z. “At first, the wait to get out there was pretty nerve-racking, but once I got out there and saw the crowd, I knew I got it and performed with such confidence,” said Victoria Avonce, a freshman on JV cheer. Following the performance, ASB presented the homecoming court at midfield, and royalty was crowned. Reflecting on the long halftime, Coach Bargas noted, "There's a lot of potential pitfalls in that because you have a longer halftime, so that hurts a little because it throws you out of whack."
The second half brought intensity and heart-pounding moments. In the third quarter, Los Amigos found the end zone to tie the game 7-7, while Estancia remained scoreless. The fourth quarter delivered the most action of the night, with both teams combining for 21 points. The Lobos took the lead 14-7, but Estancia quickly answered. Junior quarterback Kai Bargas connected with junior Juan Silva on a 12-yard touchdown pass, and Gabe Johner nailed the extra point to tie it 14-14.
With less than two minutes remaining, Los Amigos managed to break through Estancia’s defense and scored again, pulling ahead 21-14. Despite a determined last-minute push, the Eagles ran out of time before they could even the score.
“Defense wins football,” said Coach Bargas after the game. The Lobos’ defense ultimately held strong, preventing Estancia from clinching a homecoming victory. Still, with two league games left on the schedule, the Eagles remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. Estancia fans continue to rally behind Coach Bargas and the team as they prepare for the crucial road ahead.
Go Eagles!
