Laguna Beach rides offensive outburst to opening night win over Costa Mesa

Following an abbreviated spring season designed to give players a chance to compete in a school year defined by the coronavirus pandemic, high school football teams across Southern California returned to game action this week.

Despite the quick turnaround, opening night could not come fast enough for the Laguna Beach Breakers, who were eager to move past the memory of their only home game from the season prior.

On that occasion, the Breakers squandered a 21-point halftime lead to Ocean View in a critical game in the race for the Pac 4 League crown.

Will Bingham threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns, and Laguna Beach rode a red-hot offense to a 54-13 victory over Costa Mesa on Friday night in a nonleague game at home.

Bingham’s passing yards were good for the fourth-best single-game mark in the history of the program, which has spanned 87 years.

Luke Degner made seven catches for a game-high 168 yards and two touchdowns. Ryner Swanson made five receptions for 97 yards and another score.

Luke Degner of Laguna Beach breaks free for a big gain against Costa Mesa on Friday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

The opportunity to play in front of the home fans was one that Degner relished. He said the Breakers are coming into the season with a chip on their shoulder after they did not convert on a chance to win the league opener at Guyer Field last season.

“It was awesome,” Degner said. “We’ve been super excited, ever since how last season ended. It didn’t end in our favor, obviously. We came out here and we’re excited. We’ve been practicing like crazy and grinding every day. We’ve been super excited for this, and I think we showed that tonight.”

Laguna Beach needed just four plays from scrimmage to open the scoring, as Cooper Buckhorn scored on a 14-yard run.

Prior to that, the Breakers lost first-string running back Tyler Fields for the game. Laguna Beach coach John Shanahan said that Fields sustained a dislocated elbow.

Cooper Buckhorn heads for open field and a touchdown.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

“They got it back in, and things look positive,” Shanahan said. “We’re just praying that nothing is broken in there and to get him back.

“We have some good skill. We have some kids that play hard and a little bit of depth for the first time in a long time.”

Bingham spread the ball around to six receivers in the first half, also connecting with David Dworakowski and Bronson Baylies for touchdowns.

Bingham said that he believes that the ability to participate in seven-on-seven events in the offseason improved his ability to read a defense. A road game against a Dana Hills team making its season debut next week could serve as a proving ground.

Costa Mesa’s Kobe Lemari breaks a tackle against Laguna Beach.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Backup quarterback Sam Garwal dashed to the left pylon for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also had a couple of tackles for a loss defensively. Jack Arntz added an interception for the Breakers.

Costa Mesa’s first touch of the game resulted in its longest play. Kobe Lemari returned a kick 61 yards, setting up the Mustangs at the Laguna Beach 5. Two plays later, Lemari took the handoff and carried the ball into the end zone.

The Mustangs took a 7-6 lead just over two minutes into the contest, but the Breakers scored touchdowns on all seven of their first-half possessions, leading to a running clock after the break.

Costa Mesa would score again in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Garrett Richards threw a deep pass to Kembe Howerton, who brought it in and broke away for a 53-yard touchdown up the right sideline.

Costa Mesa running back Brett McDonough sheds the tackle of Laguna Beach’s Jackson Byerly.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Those were the only passing yards of the game for Costa Mesa. Meanwhile, the Mustangs ran the ball 29 times for 118 yards. Richards led the ground attack with 13 carries for 52 yards.

“We saw some flashes, and in our team, our line is probably the most seasoned players on our team,” Mustangs coach Van Tuinei said. “So we’re trying to take advantage of the experience of our offensive line.

“We do have a young quarterback back there, so we’re trying to save him, have him throw short routes, but sometimes when your back is against the wall, you’ve got to pass.”

Laguna Beach defenders tackle Costa Mesa’s Brett McDonough.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Nonleague

Laguna Beach 54, Costa Mesa 13

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Costa Mesa 7 – 0 – 0 – 6 – 13

Laguna Beach 27 – 20 – 0 – 7 - 54

FIRST QUARTER

LB – Buckhorn 14 run (kick failed), 10:30.

CM – Lemari 4 run (Bohena kick), 9:37.

LB – Dworakowski 33 pass from Bingham (Molteni kick), 7:26.

LB – Degner 27 pass from Bingham (Molteni kick), 5:06.

LB – Buckhorn 1 run (Molteni kick), 0:43.

SECOND QUARTER

LB – Swanson 14 pass from Bingham (Molteni kick), 9:02.

LB – Degner 26 pass from Bingham (kick failed), 3:23.

LB – Baylies 5 pass from Bingham (Molteni kick), 1:56.

THIRD QUARTER

None

FOURTH QUARTER

CM – Howerton 53 pass from Richards (kick blocked), 9:10.

LB – Garwal 20 run (Molteni kick), 2:59.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

CM – Richards, 13-52.

LB – Buckhorn, 4-36, 2 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

CM – Richards, 1-10-1, 53, 1 TD.

LB – Bingham, 19-24-0, 341, 5 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

CM – Howerton, 1-53, 1 TD.

LB – Degner, 7-168, 2 TDs; Swanson, 5-97, 1 TD.

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