Artists get back to work

Mike Sciacca

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The calendar said that it was time for them to put aside the

carefree days of summer.

The date, Aug. 22, dictated that several young men exchange days

in the surf and sand, for contact drills between the lines on the

grassy turf of Guyer Field.

Yes, it was back to business as football had made its way back

onto the schedule at Laguna Beach High.

“We’re excited to get started,” Laguna Beach coach Dave Holland

said prior to the start of the first day of practice, which

officially launched the beginning of the Artists’ 2002 prep football

season. “I’m anxious to see how enthused the kids are.”

Thirty-two players reported for camp, he said, among them, six key

players from last year’s 6-4 squad.

Four of those players earned all-Pacific Coast League honors:

running back Donnelle Darling was a first team choice and center

Clayton Caron, linebacker Marshall Paymard and defensive tackle

Alberto Sanchez all made second-team.

All four players return for their senior year in 2002.

“The attitude among these kids was really good and we coaches were

happy about that,” Holland said.

Darling had a terrific 2001 season.

As a junior, Holland noted that Darling rushed for 1,278 yards. In

addition, he set school single-game records for rushing yardage and

touchdowns with 266 yards and five TDs, respectively, during a 35-14

win over Santa Ana Valley last Oct. 6.

That victory gave Laguna Beach a 5-0 start to the season -- the

best opening to a season by an Artist team since 1986.

The 2002 Artists already have survived the rigors of two-a-day

practices in what school’s traditionally call, “Hell Week.”

This group is hungry, too: Laguna Beach will be seeking its first

league title and CIF playoff appearance since the 1987 season.

“These workouts will give us an indication of what we have for the

upcoming season,” Holland said. “Our work is just beginning.”

Holland will get his initial look at the 2002 Artists during next

Thursday’s scrimmage at Estancia. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. with the

frosh/soph scrimmage preceding the varsity at 3 p.m.

The first regular season game is a Sept. 13 home date with La

Quinta at Guyer Field.

A capsule look at Laguna Beach High football:

SCHOOL: Laguna Beach

NICKNAME: Artists

COLORS: Maroon & White

LEAGUE: Pacific Coast

COACH: Dave Holland

ASSISTANT COACHES: Mario Morales; Paul Gallegos; Lorenzo Martinez;

Steve Smith; Keith Peery.

2001 OVERALL RECORD: 6-4

2001 LEAGUE RECORD: 1-4; 4th

LAST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: 1987

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 1987

KEY RETURNING STARTERS: Donnelle Darling, RB, first-team

all-league, 1,278 rushing yards, Sr.; Clayton Caron, C, second-team

all-league, Sr.; Bryce Loidolt , FS; Sr.; Marshall Paymard, LB,

second-team all-league, Sr.; Alberto Sanchez, DT, second-team

all-league, Sr.; Satar Abass, DE, Sr.

KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION: Team MVP Jason Boyd, RB/DB; Todd Merz,

QB; Anil Adam, RB/DB.

OUTLOOK: Holland welcomes back several players who earned

all-league status from last year’s squad that won six games. Things

look to be positive and CIF is another strong possibility.