Big lead gets away

A title might have slipped away, but the Laguna Beach High football team still accomplished one of its goals.

The Breakers reached that milestone last week when they played Costa Mesa on Nov. 14 in a game that would determine the 2008 Orange Coast League champions. And although Laguna suffered a 38-30 defeat, they still earned a berth in the CIF Southern Division playoffs as the league’s No. 2 representative.

Laguna took on Golden West League runner-up Santa Ana on Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium. The score from the first-round game wasn’t available at press time.

A win by Laguna, however, would advance the Breakers to a second-round game Nov. 28 against the winner of tonight’s first-round game between La Mirada and Corona del Mar.

“It was tough to lose to Costa Mesa, but we still have more football to play,” said Jonathan Todd, whose team is back in the postseason for the first time in two years. “I’m very proud of the kids in that they accomplished the goal of making it back to the playoffs. We’re excited to play Santa Ana and I think it’s a good draw for us.”

Several Breakers were sick at the outset of practice this week, said Todd, noting that the team held its first full practice on Wednesday.

In the 38-30 loss to Costa Mesa, a game in which the Breakers led, 22-0, after the first quarter and 22-7 at the half, senior running back Zach Smith ran roughshod over the Mustangs, gaining 309 yards on 33 carries. He scored three touchdowns on runs covering 82, 10 and one yards.

His 82-yard jaunt came on his first run from scrimmage.

Todd became just the third player in school history to surpass the 2,000-yards career rushing mark. He had 2,052 going into Thursday’s playoff game against Santa Ana.

“His performance was amazing,” Todd said.

“He was a real workhorse out there. He just kept going and going. He’s a real tough competitor.”

Laguna, which was 4-6 overall heading into the playoffs, also scored on a 34-yard pass from Austin Paxson to Chris Paul that led to a 22-0 lead with 16 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Paul, a sophomore who finished with 133 yards on seven receptions, now has 29 catches for 516 yards and four touchdowns on the year. The 516 yards is the 11th-best single-season mark for receiving yardage.

BREAKERS MVP

Name: Zach Smith

Year: Senior

Positions: Running back/outside linebacker

Height: 5-7

Weight: 190

Highlights: Smith ran wild and into the Laguna Beach football record book by amassing 309 yards on 33 carries against Costa Mesa. He added three touchdowns, as well. Smith’s 309-yard effort replaces Jody Stevens’ 296-yard game against Calvary Chapel in 2005.

Coach’s comments: “Zach was a warrior out there,” said Jonathan Todd, who once held the school’s single-game rushing record. “He ran so hard. He’s the best running back I’ve ever seen at Laguna Beach High.”