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    Wilson holds off Estancia to reach Division 12 football semifinals
    • November 16, 2024

    HACIENDA HEIGHTS – The Wilson Wildcats have advanced to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoffs after a dominant 27-12 win over Estancia Friday night at Los Altos High School and will play next week at Carter High School.

    Dominic Ezeonye ran the ball 23 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns in their convincing win. Defensively, he was a force, causing havoc in the Eagles backfield from the edge rusher position, having multiple rushes, including a sack in the first quarter.

    “I just think, ‘Run, ball, score,” Ezeonye said. “No matter who hits me. No matter what happens, just keep running. Pick up your feet. Drag however many people you want to the end zone. Just, ‘Score score score.’ That’s all that’s going through my mind.”

    Ezeonye’s performance put him just 60 yards shy of reaching 2,000 yards this season. He also has 28 touchdowns this year.

    “Dom preps like no other. Takes care of his body, lifts hard, runs hard and he’s a workhorse,” Wilson coach Charles Lewis said.

    The Wildcats scored on their first three possessions to begin the game. Enezonye scored the first two Wilson touchdowns. The first came from a 14-yard run. The second was a 20-yard run. Sean Lawson scored the third offensive touchdown of the night for Wilson with a 60-yard reception.

    Wilson’s leading receiver was Brian Silva who connected with quarterback Juaquin Villalobos three times for 67 yards. Silva’s longest reception was on the Wildcats’ first offensive drive on a 58-yard pass that put them near the end zone. Villalobos went seven for eight with 157 yards.

    Estancia’s first score came on its second offensive possession of the game.

    Facing a third-and-long situation, the Eagles drew up a wide receiver pass trick play that resulted in a 40-yard reception by Andru Durazo. Running back Jeff Brown finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7.

    The Wildcats’ offense did not come near the end zone again until late in the second quarter. With less than 30 seconds left before half and the clock ticking, quarterback Heriberto Sanchez had a 15-yard completion to Joseth Zarate Groth.

    With five seconds left on the clock, the Eagles elected to kick a 35-yard field goal to make the game 21-10 at halftime.

    Sanchez completed 8 of 23 passes for 109 yards. Zarate Groth was Estancia’s leading receiver with 81 yards.

    Estancia’s offense found success by running the ball with Jeff Brown who had 82 yards. Despite Brown’s success, Estancia had a hard time sustaining a decent drive in the second half and only scored one more time from a safety that was called on a blocked punt in the third quarter.

    “We’re primarily a run team,” Estancia coach Mike Bargas said prior to the start of the game. “When we’re able to run the ball well and have success, it kind of makes for a pretty good football game.”

    Sanchez threw two interceptions in the game. The first came in the third quarter to Wilson cornerback Noah Becerra who made a great play jumping the receiver’s route and taking the ball downfield 23 yards to give the game its final score. It was the second straight game Becerra had an interception.

    “It felt great. And I got a touchdown.” Becerra said.

    “My defense they showed up tonight,” Lewis said. “They like to run the ball and we stood up to the test of playing hard physical football. Playing gap sound and making tackles.”

    The second interception was on a deep ball to the middle of the field where Lawson was standing all alone to nearly ice the game in the fourth quarter.

    “Me and Sean always hang out a lot at school. … We always push each other at practice,” Becerra said. “We just keep pushing.”

     

    ​ Orange County Register 

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