Breakers open season tonight

Mike Sciacca

The Jimmy Nolan coaching era begins tonight at Laguna Beach High when

the Breakers host Palos Verdes at a new-look Guyer Field.

Laguna will take the field wearing new uniforms and play on a new

OmniGrass turf.

“We feel very fortunate and lucky to have such a nice field,”

Nolan said. “I don’t think there is a better high school football

stadium in California.

“The kids have a lot of pride in the new uniforms and are very

thankful for all the generous donations that made it possible to

afford them.”

Laguna is coming off a 3-6-1 record, the final season the Breakers

would be coached by Dave Holland, who retired at the end of the 2003

season.

The Breakers opened their season last year with a 33-13 win at

Palos Verdes.

The Sea Kings, who play in the Pioneer League, went on to a 2-8

campaign.

“I have watched that Palos Verdes game from last year, many

times,” Nolan said. “Sure, Laguna beat them, but Palos Verdes

basically was a junior varsity team and Laguna should have beat them.

“This will be Palos Verdes’ first season playing with seniors.

When you watch the film, if you take away four of last year’s Laguna

seniors from last year’s game, I believe the Palos Verdes juniors

beat our juniors, hands down. So, I think this will be a good test

for us. I’m sure Palos Verdes wants a piece of Laguna Beach.”

Laguna enters tonight’s opener without the services of two key

players -- Jody Stevens and Adam Kennaday, both injured during recent

practices.

“We are a speed team and our offense and defense revolves around

these two guys,” Nolan said. “We’ve had to change everything we’ve

been doing and move people to new positions these past couple of days

in order to prepare for this game without our two speed guys.

“So, we’ve already been dealing with some tough adversity and

haven’t played a game yet. I’m confident the boys will rise and find

a way.”

The start at quarterback has been a tight battle between Garrett

Preston and Talan Torriero and Nolan said tonight’s starter was still

undecided as of Wednesday.

Nolan also said the Breakers will dedicate their 2004 season to

the parents of Laguna Beach High students Max Sadler and Mark Tiner,

who were killed in a car accident last school year.

“We’ll be wearing an “M” on either side of our helmets in honor of

both Max and Mark, who have been so dearly missed,” Nolan said. “One

“M” will be green, which was Max’s favorite color, and the other “M”

will be black, Mark’s favorite color.”