Estrada exceeds BC expectations

By Tom Halliburton
The Port Arthur News

November 02, 2006 10:26 am

— BRIDGE CITY — Once upon a time when Claude Tarver surveyed this Bridge City team’s weaknesses, the Cardinals’ coach needed a place-kicker.
A very capable kicker named A.J. Hecker graduated from BCHS last spring. Hecker’s absence really created a void because his leg strength provided long kickoffs, dependable field goals and extra points.
Exit Hecker and enter his replacement, an unproven youngster with only one previous year of kicking experience. His name is Guadalupe Estrada — an 18-year-old son of Lionel Estrada — and he’s been money in the bank for BC’s kicking team most of the time.
Of course, nobody knows Guadalupe Estrada. Everybody knows Estrada as “Luqui” — the nickname he’s had since he’s been knee-high to a grasshopper.
It’s one of those pleasant stories from the Cardinals’ 2006 season and this team has more than a few good ones. Estrada’s secret to success is simply this: don’t do much kicking during practice all week... that way, the kicker does not have to worry about wearing out his leg.
Therefore, Tarver wisely chooses to allocate a very small time-window for Garcia’s kicking time. But there’s another reason Tarver prefers to go that route, too. Estrada doubles as a very busy strong safety.
So Luqui doesn’t spend all his time, merely standing around on the sideline and wondering when his next kicking opportunity shall be.
Estrada’s results speak for themselves. He kicked two field goals last week against Kirbyville and has booted a season-long of 41 yards in a game and 50 in a practice.
While his field-goal success has not been automatic, it’s six successful kicks out of nine and most kickers would be happy with that. The same can be written about his extra-point success. Seventeen out of 20 is not automatic but two of the three misses were blocked.
That’s excellent work for the Redbirds at a position which was thought to be a real concern... maybe even a downright weak spot.
“Last year would be the first year that I even started kicking,” he said. “I had begun working at safety back as a freshman.”
At only 5-6, 170, Estrada has personified this entire Bridge City squad. It’s terribly under-sized, making life difficult in competing with larger players from Silsbee and Kirbyville. Yet BC has strived to keep improving and be the best it can be.
One great source of motivation for Estrada, and perhaps future Cardinals’ kickers, is former BC toe, Matt Bryant of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You can’t blame the senior kicker for looking up to Bryant, who recently converted a game-winning, game-ending 62-yard field goal – the second-longest distance of any field goal in National Football League history.
Estrada has not received any tips from Bryant but he has tried to follow in his footsteps. He’s extremely proud of Matt’s latest accomplishment.
“I am glad that he’s making Bridge City look so good,” Estrada said. “I know that he has put a lot of hard work into it and hopefully I can too. I’ve seen him come out here to the field and kick. He’s really a great example and a motivation for me.
“I wish I could get more practice in kicking than I do but I love it. The coaches say that I get better every game at safety, too. I guess I must do something right.”
Tarver and Bridge City’s coaches never have anything but praise and appreciation for the unexpected contribution which Estrada has made. You never know how important his kicks might be on Friday night when the Cardinals entertain Hamshire-Fannett in the season’s final home game.
Who knows what will happen to Luqui? Maybe he will be like Bryant and walk-on as a college kicker somewhere. An A-B student, Estrada strives to possess the tools to move onto bigger and better things.
“We weren’t sure how Luqui would do but he’s done a real good job for us,” Tarver said. “He’s been effective when we pooch-kick (shorter and high trajectory) on kickoffs.
“He’s performed extremely well and it’s been a great story the way he’s delivered as both a kicker and a safety.”
Guadalupe Estrada has done his part to help the Cardinals to have a winning season. He is ready to continue that mission on Friday night.
REDBIRD CHIRPS
Cardinals have their annual “Senior” night scheduled this Friday for their final home game against Hamshire-Fannett. Senior football players and senior cheerleaders will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies with their parents. Senior night festivities will continue at halftime when BC’s band members and strutters also will be recognized with their parents.... The Cardinals’ junior varsity continues to impress, fashioning a 7-1 record.... Area’s best punting average very easily could end in BC’s corner, too. Senior Jeff Stringer has booted 27 points for an area-best 38.1-yard average.... Leading tacklers against Kirbyville were LBs Kurt Moerbe (12 solos and 4 assists) and Chris Foster (13 and 5).... Top Kirbyville film grades belonged to post-season award candidate, senior DT David Blackshear (91 percent), Patrick Carlton (90), Justin Norman (88) and Johnny Dishon (84)....

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.