Breakers get a breather

Mike Sciacca

After having played the first three games of its 2003 schedule on the

road -- a road well-traveled, at that -- the Laguna Beach High

football team didn’t quite have the home opener it had hoped for last

Friday.

Costa Mesa galloped into Guyer Field and spoiled the Breakers’

home opener and three-game win streak by taking a 41-13 nonleague

victory.

And now, with four games under its belt, Laguna has the week off

from playing.

The Breakers began their 2003 season on Sept. 5 -- a week sooner

than most schools.

CIF rules stipulate that during a bye week, a team is not allowed

to dress out in full gear, pads included. Shorts and shirts dictate

the practice attire and 1 1/2 hours is the maximum time limit a team

can practice per day during the off week.

The bye will allow the Breakers the chance to right the wrong they

encountered against Costa Mesa, fine-tune the little things that,

they hope, will make the machine roll again.

A little downtime will help, tight end/linebacker Brett O’Connor

said prior to the start of practice Wednesday.

“The break allows us the chance to get in more practice time and

perfect our loose ends and correct our mistakes,” the senior said.

“Some guys are bummed that we don’t have a game this week but I think

we can use the break to our advantage.

“This will give us the chance to get better as football players.”

Laguna rolled to road victories in its first three games but found

the going tough against Costa Mesa in its home opener.

Mistake-riddled Laguna found itself in a 41-point halftime hole

and never recovered.

Two fumbles and three interceptions -- all coming in the second

quarter of play -- doomed the shellshocked Breakers as the Mustangs

scored four touchdowns in a little under three minutes in bolting to

a 41-0 halftime advantage.

“We were disappointed in the loss and we learned a good lesson,”

Coach Dave Holland said. “You know, the kids just wanted to do well

in their first home game of the season. I don’t know if it was stage

fright, or what, but things didn’t go well for them early in the

game.

“When I looked at game film, there were only a couple of plays

that turned this game. I was proud of the way our kids came back in

the second half, though.”

Laguna avoided a shutout by scoring twice in the fourth quarter

and shutout the Mustangs in the second half.

First, Alex Wilson, who threw for 151 yards, got nine of those on

a touchdown pass to Elliot Whalen. Brett O’Connor returned a fumbled

punt return 19 yards for Laguna’s final score.

“Despite the loss, there were some positives to come out of that

game,” Holland said. “It’s really nice to get this break this week.

It will allow us extra time to work on the areas we need improvement

and prepare for Magnolia.”

Magnolia is the Breakers’ final nonleague tuneup before the start

of Pacific Coast League play.

Laguna opens Pacific Coast League play Oct. 17 against Corona del

Mar at Newport Harbor High.

The Breakers enter the break relatively injury-free, although

junior lineman Matt Rollings is recovering from a sprained ankle.

“He’s getting treatment for the sprain,” Holland said. “It’s a

good sign that we have remained relatively healthy at this point of

the season, especially with league play just around the corner.”