COSTA MESA – A year ago, University came into its nonleague game against Estancia with a 3-0 record but left with a 25-point loss that put the skids on a promising season.
The Trojans reversed that pattern Friday. They put on a disciplined performance in a 28-0 road shutout of the Eagles to improve to 4-0. The 2015 Trojans have already won as many games this season as they have in any year since 2008.
Quarterback Neil Boudreau completed 8 of 11 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, running back Sam Winder ran for 66 yards and tight end Michael Jung had three catches for 50 yards and a score. The Trojans defense held the Eagles to 80 rushing yards and came up with several big plays when Estancia was threatening.
“We have a lot of experience and that’s helped tremendously,’’ longtime Trojans coach Mark Cunningham said after the win. “The focus of this team is very different.
“We have a good group of kids and good skill talent. Most importantly, we have very good chemistry. You can be big and have talent and if you don’t have chemistry you’re not going to win.’’
Boudreau was efficient and Winder, Matt Abellaneda, Alex Pourdanesh and Max Haughey all ran effectively to control the clock and field position.
“We knew this game would be a challenge,’’ Winder said. “Estancia is better than our previous opponents. But we feel a lot more confident than we have in the past.’’
The Trojans added several big plays to their efficient game on both ends of the field.
Two big plays marked the Trojans’ first quarter scoring drive, a 12-yard end-around by Pourdanesh and Winder’s quick 33-yard burst inside. Abellaneda scored from the 2 for a 7-0 University lead.
Estancia couldn’t take advantage of two turnovers, a first quarter interception by Konrad O’Daly and a second quarter University fumble that set the Eagles up at the Trojans’ 33.
On that drive, an 11-yard run by Tyler Chacon and 10-yard Connor Brown pass to O’Daly got the Eagles to the nine, but the drive stalled and Tony Hernandez missed a 29-yard field attempt.
University used the momentum of that miss to drive 80 yards in 10 plays and take a 14-0 halftime lead. Winder converted two short third down runs and had an 11-yard completion from Boudreau, and the quarterback raced 30 yards on a neat quarterback draw, getting a great block from Michael Jung.
Abellaneda scored on the next play, an 18-yard run, to make it 14-0.
The Trojans scored on their first possession of the second half, on a fourth-and-12 Boudreau touchdown pass to Jung. Estancia drove to the Trojan 10 on the next possession but Brown’s pass in the end zone was intercepted by Darrius Outland.
University used up all but 2:15 of the fourth quarter on a long drive that ended with a Haughey touchdown.
“We had three trips to their red zone and we didn’t capitalize,’’ Estancia coach Mike Bargas said.
Contact the writer: bkeisser@ocregister.com
