Buena Park Is in Position to Beat Eagles

BUENA PARK — Buena Park made short work of Estancia with three touchdown drives of 14 yards and a fourth of 12 yards in defeating the visiting Eagles, 26-17, in a nonleague game Friday night.

The Coyotes received excellent field position on a 51-yard return of a fumble by Jabari Phillips, a 15-yard punt return by Brian McDonald and interceptions by Eric Wolford and Felipe Hermosillo, setting up the four Buena Park touchdowns.

McDonald opened the scoring on a 14-yard touchdown run. Estancia quickly tied the score with its two biggest gains of the game, a 38-yard pass from Justin Wolter to Manu Tanielu and a 36-yard touchdown run by James Dawkins.

Estancia (1-1) took a 10-7 first-quarter lead on a 27-yard field goal by Wolter.

McDonald’s punt return and an Estancia personal foul gave Buena Park (1-1) the ball on the Eagle 14. Tony Alonzo hit Wolford with a one-yard touchdown pass but the point-after kick was blocked by Gerardo Molina, leaving Buena Park with a 13-10 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, Wolford capped the Coyotes’ 12-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 19-10.

Estancia cut the lead to two when Aaron Dew blocked a punt and Mike Briano returned it 20 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

Buena Park clinched the victory when Hermosillo intercepted a pass and returned it to the 14. After a one-yard loss, Alonzo scored from the 15 with 1:19 left.

Dawkins was held in check for most of the game, finishing with 111 yards.