Estapa quarterbacked a PRCC football team in 1971 that finished the season with a 9-1 record. He played two seasons under coaches John Russell and J.C. Arban.

He prepped at Bay St. Louis under Coach J.E. Loiacano, another former PRCC star in the Sports Hall of Fame. 

“Pearl River was the only scholarship offer I had because I played hampered by injuries my senior year in high school,” said Estapa. “As a freshman, I saw limited playing time but I started as the place-kicker.”

As a sophomore, he came into his own as the team’s quarterback with such talented teammates as Mike Harvison, Mike Harrison, Jerry Purvis and Nate Fairconnetue.         

“I really look at Pearl River as my home college experience,” said Estapa. “Winning was so awesome. We only lost three games in two years. It was a fun place to play. The coaches were all on the same page, it was fun to be in the meetings. It made for a really good atmosphere.

“I made relationships with guys there who I stay in contact with today.”

Estapa and eight of his teammates in 1971 played in the Mississippi JuCo All-Star game. He had college offers from Cincinnati, Vermont, Delta State, Cincinnati and Southeastern Louisiana. He opted to stay close to home at Southeastern where he learned the girls outnumbered the boys 4-to-1 at the time.

“We liked that,” he said.

He carved his name into the Southeastern passing record books and was voted the team’s most valuable player for the 1972 season.

Estapa currently lives in Houston and works with Compaq and Hewlett-Packard as a manufacturing operations manager. He has three children and seven grandchildren, with two more on the way.

“I am very proud and fortunate to have played at such a nationally-prominent football program like Pearl River,” said Estapa. “My time there remains a significant highlight in my life.”