Season to remember

Mike Sciacca

They’ve been out of pads and off the field for two weeks now. The

time has allowed the Laguna Beach High football program to take stock

of the season.

For the 2002 Breakers, it was a season of noteworthy

accomplishments.

“I think our guys have a lot to be proud of, and what we have done

this year is build for the future,” Laguna Beach coach Dave Holland

said. “Really, this program has been making progress over the past

three or four years.”

Laguna Beach’s steady climb in the past few years paid off this

fall when the program received its first CIF playoff invitation in 15

years.

A first-round loss to top-ranked La Habra did little to undermine

the season.

“I know our kids are disappointed in losing to La Habra, but I

thought we played a fantastic game,” Holland said. “If we continue to

work hard in the off-season, then we will set the ground work for

next year.”

RECORDS

Senior running back Donnelle Darling rewrote a lot of the school’s

rushing records in this, the 68th year of Laguna Beach football.

Darling, who also started at defensive back, became the school’s

all-time leader in career rushing yardage (2,606), carries (413),

touchdowns (39) and scoring (238 points).

Junior quarterback Alex Wilson established a new school mark for

passing yards in a single game when he threw for 333 in an Oct. 19

Pacific Coast League encounter with Calvary Chapel.

Wilson also threw for the third-best yardage (1,611) and

fourth-best touchdown passes (13) in a single-season.

Senior wide receiver/defensive back Bryce Loidolt went into the

books as the receiving leader for catches (11) and yardage (128) in a

CIF playoff game.

As a program, Laguna Beach has scored in 44 consecutive games --

another record.

Black Watch Unit

Four juniors were named to the prestigious “Black Watch”: Jake

Wheeler, defensive back/backup quarterback; Brett O’Connor, tight

end/linebacker; Brad Wolf, running back/linebacker; and Juan Luna,

running back/defensive back.

All-Pacific Coast League

Four Breakers earned first-team all-league honors, three were

named second-team, one on special teams, and four earned honorable

mention.

First-Team

Offense

Donnelle Darling, running back, senior.

Defense

Bryce Loidolt, defensive back, senior; Marshall Paymard,

linebacker, senior; and Clayton Caron, lineman, senior.

Second-Team

Offense

Alex Wilson, quarterback, junior.

Defense

Alberto Sanchez, lineman, senior; Jake Wheeler, defensive back,

junior.

Special Teams

Steve Harris, kicker, senior.

Honorable Mention

Offense

Sitar Abass, lineman, senior; Ed Hanke, wide receiver, senior.

Defense

Brad Wolf, linebacker, junior; Brett O’Connor, linebacker, junior.