Laguna looks to break slump

Well, the first part of what the Laguna Beach High football team hopes is a three-part season is over.

Since the final weekend of August, the Breakers have played seven nonleague opponents and compiled a 1-6 record in the process. The going has been tough, as of late, as they are stuck in a five-game losing skid. But through this week and next, Laguna will have plenty of time to work on the things that need fixing, fine-tune areas of its game that need attention, all in an effort to be ready for the next leg of the season.

The Breakers should be in working condition again when they launch their Orange Coast League schedule at home on Oct. 26 against Costa Mesa.

Laguna is the defending league champion.

The Breakers are required to practice during an off-week sans pads and can wear only helmets.

“We have a lot to work on between now and that league opener,” Laguna Coach Jonathan Todd said. “This week has been about covering everything, from fundamentals to play packages.

“We’ve been through seven weeks of the season but now comes a really important stage for us. It’s a brand new season with league coming up. We’re excited about that.”

In its final nonleague game last Friday, Laguna ran into a run-happy Notre Dame of Riverside team that left Guyer Field with a 35-0 victory. The Breakers went to their passing game a bit more than they have this season, moved the ball but couldn’t find the end zone.

Laguna’s defense ran into the best back they’ll face all season, Oregon State-commit Kenjon Barner.

Barner did the bulk of the offensive work for the Titans and bullied his way for an astounding 378 yards on 30 carries. He rushed for all five Notre Dame touchdowns “” his longest, a 50-yarder, came in the first quarter “” and impressed Todd.

“He’s a legit running back,” he said of Barner. “His start-and-go is unbelievable. He has a great ability to run one way then stop, cut and go the other way so quickly. For our kids, they got the chance to go up against a really big running back who is going on to play big-time college football. Notre Dame’s offense was hard to contain.”