Breakers to kick off new season
The first five weeks are in the books for the Laguna Beach High football team. Now, comes the bigger part of the regular season — the start of Orange Coast League competition.
Laguna takes its first step in league play Friday when it travels to battle defending league champion Costa Mesa. Kickoff at Jim Scott Stadium at Estancia High is at 7 p.m.
The Breakers last played Oct. 2. On that night, they wrapped up their nonleague schedule against Northwood and fell to the Timberwolves, 38-14, at Irvine High. The outcome put the Breakers at 1-4.
Northwood took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then put the game away in the second quarter. Two interceptions returned for touchdowns capped a 24-point explosion that made the score 38-0 at the half.
The Breakers can now turn their attention to the final five weeks of the regular season.
When Laguna takes on Costa Mesa, it will be attempting to halt a four-game losing streak. Their final three nonleague games came against quality competition, with games against Westminster (No. 3, CIF Southern Section Southern Division) and St. Margaret’s (No. 1, East Valley Division) preceding the Northwood game.
“We’re ready and focused for league,” Laguna Coach Corey Brown said. “We played quality opponents during nonleague to get us ready for league.
“Going into league, we feel that we can compete for one of those top spots and get a CIF (playoff) berth. Our ultimate goal is to win the league championship, and that is what we are striving for.”
Costa Mesa was idle last week. The Mustangs have struggled so far in 2014, entering Friday’s game with an 0-5 record. In their final nonleague game two weeks ago, the Mustangs were edged, 13-8, by Savanna.
Two of the Mustangs’ five losses have come by five points or less. Their three other defeats have been one-sided losses in which they’ve given up 34 or more points.
Costa Mesa is scoring just below 10 points per game.
“We need to be prepared no matter who the opponent is,” Brown said. “I feel that the league race is wide open, that teams are even and anybody can win on any given night.
“This game is the first step toward achieving our goal which is to win league.”
Results/Schedule
Laguna Beach (1-4)
45...Bolsa Grande...12
10...University...37
21...Westminster...57
14...St. Margaret’s...35
14...Northwood...38
Friday: *at Costa Mesa (at Estancia High)
Oct. 17: *Saddleback (homecoming)
Oct. 24: *at Estancia
Oct. 31: *Calvary Chapel
Nov. 7: *Godinez
Twitter: @MikeSciacca