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NEWPORT BEACH — What a doozy of a game to lose a starting quarterback.
Estancia High Coach Mike Bargas was forced to use third-string quarterback Radames Gutierriez in Thursday night’s 27-26 loss to Ocean View (4-1) after starter Mike Morley was injured in the first quarter.
Morley, who usually only plays on offense, started at cornerback after starter Alek Kirshner, who is also the backup quarterback, stretched his anterior cruciate ligament.
But Morley dislocated or separated his shoulder, Bargas said, with less than two minutes left in the first quarter as he was taking down Ocean View tight end Kenneth Tarpley.
Morley left the game immediately to go to the hospital.
“We’re one injury away from catastrophe,” said a disappointed and spent-looking Bargas after the game.
Morley opened the game with two rushes for 28 yards, and capped the first touchdown drive with a 20-yard run. He finished with 90 yards on nine carries for two touchdowns.
“He did a great job,” Bargas said. “It was unfortunate he took a shot to the shoulder. We had to put Radames in, and he didn’t get all the [repetitions]. He’s going to have to get more [repetitions], because Mike’s probably going to be out for a couple weeks.”
Unable to keep a fourth-quarter drive alive and take some time off the clock, Estancia (2-4) punted to give Ocean View the ball at the Eagles’ 42-yard line.
The Seahawks fumbled on third-and-one at the five-yard line, but recovered and just made the first down by the skin of their teeth, and that conversion decided the game.
With four new chances to get in the end zone, Ocean View quarterback Dana Maley ran the four yards for the Seahawks’ last touchdown with 2:59 left in regulation.
“All those little things sting,” Bargas said. “We’ve got to play everything well: offense, defense, and special teams. You can’t create one leak, and then stick your finger in there, because then the dike just opens up.”
Estancia had one more chance to score, but a two-yard loss on a pitch to Carlos Mendez brought up a long third down, and the Eagles failed to convert twice, turning the ball over on downs with 1:10 left in the game.
