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Battle for the Bell is a must-win football game for Estancia’s and Costa Mesa’s CIF playoff hopes

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If there is one football game Estancia High coach Mike Bargas wins more often than not, it’s the Battle for the Bell with Costa Mesa.

Since he took over the Eagles 10 years ago, Bargas is 7-3 against the Mustangs. He and the Eagles hope to continue their winning ways in the rivalry.

A victory in the 51st edition of the Battle for the Bell will keep Estancia’s CIF Southern Section Division 13 playoff hopes alive, while Costa Mesa is looking to get back in the postseason picture with its first win in Orange Coast League play. The Eagles (1-6, 1-1 in league) travel to Costa Mesa (3-4, 0-2) to play at 7 p.m. on Friday.

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With the Eagles five games below .500, they put themselves in a hole. Estancia, facing a challenging nonleague schedule, dropped its first five games.

“I have to re-look at this, so we have a better chance at making the playoffs,” said Bargas, referring to whether he should schedule tough nonleague games in the future. “If you don’t place [in the top two in the league], you don’t have a chance at the [at-large playoff entry] whatsoever now. They don’t reward you for playing tough teams.”

Costa Mesa has lost the last three meetings to Estancia, and six of seven. The Mustangs have also struggled against the rest of the league since coach Glen Fisher’s arrival two years ago.

Under Fisher, Costa Mesa is 2-10 in league and it has the missed the playoffs in his first two years.

Estancia has also failed to qualify for the playoffs the past two years. The next three games — at Costa Mesa, at Laguna Beach and at home against Godinez — will determine whether Bargas can guide the Eagles back to the playoffs.

Helping the Eagles against Costa Mesa is that they have history on their side. They lead the Battle for the Bell series 30-19-1.

Edison, Los Alamitos in first-place showdown

The Sunset League football championship will be on the line when Edison plays host to Los Alamitos at Huntington Beach High on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Chargers, ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 poll, and Griffins each enter the contest 2-0 in league, each shutting out their first two opponents. Edison has produced 111 points during the stretch, and Los Alamitos 113.

Expect a low-scoring affair. Last year’s score was Edison 17-9.

Edison (5-2 overall), which has claimed two straight undefeated league crowns, has won 12 in a row in league. Los Alamitos (4-3) is the last team to knock off the Chargers in league, doing so in the regular-season finale three years ago to finish in first at 5-0, a game ahead of Edison.

In the previous eight years, either Edison or Los Alamitos has won the league title. The Chargers have taken it six times and the Griffins twice.

Prediction: Edison 17, Los Alamitos 14.

david.carrillo@latimes.com

Twitter: @ByDCP

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