Laguna Beach football ends skid with victory against Costa Mesa

Something had to give Friday night between Orange Coast League football opponents Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa.

The host Breakers came in losing five straight and the visiting Mustangs were trying to bounce back after losing two in a row and nine of their last 10 league games.

Much like last year’s matchup, it was Laguna Beach that was able to end its dry spell with a 35-23 win over Costa Mesa.

Laguna Beach quarterback Curtis Harrison had a successful night running the Breaker offense, throwing for 158 yards on 12 of 17 passing.

“It’s huge, if he doesn’t play well then we’re not going to play well, everything comes from him,” said Laguna Beach coach John Shanahan about Harrison’s play. “He’s our heart and soul of this team and it’s essential for him to play well for us to win.”

After the Breakers (2-5, 1-1 in league) opened with 14 unanswered points, the Mustangs finally got on the board with a quarterback sneak by senior Ben Swanson in their opening drive of the second quarter. That momentum would be halted by two scores before the half by the Breakers — a 35-yard punt return by Sean Nolan and a 47-yard hook and ladder play from Harrison to Adam Armstrong.

The Mustangs (3-4, 0-2) could only muster up a field goal in the third quarter and it was the Breakers who immediately responded with an exclamation point — returning the proceeding kickoff for 85 yards to put the game away.

Costa Mesa scored the fourth quarter’s only two touchdowns, but time was not enough.

“When you go almost a month and a half without a win, this wasn’t like any other game,” said Shanahan of his team’s first win since their season opener. “Morale and confidence wise, this was just a humongous win for us.”

Laguna Beach 35, Costa Mesa 23

Laguna Beach … 14 14 7 0 — 35

Costa Mesa……. 0 6 3 14 — 23

FIRST QUARTER

Laguna Beach – Harrison 28 pass to Armstrong (Handel kick), 9:23.

Laguna Beach – Syvertsen 3 run (Handel kick), 1:45.

SECOND QUARTER

Costa Mesa – Swanson 1 run (PAT blocked), 6:50.

Laguna Beach – Nolan 35 punt return (Handel kick), 2:45.

Laguna Beach – Harrison 47 pass to Armstrong (Handel kick), 0:16.

THIRD QUARTER

Costa Mesa – Olmeda 16 FG, 8:30.

Laguna Beach – Armstrong 85 kick return (Handel kick), 8:17.

FOURTH QUARTER

Costa Mesa – Swanson 4 run (Olmeda kick), 9:39.

Costa Mesa – Swanson 39 pass to Gonzalez (Olmeda kick), 1:43.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Laguna Beach – Lythgoe, 9-60.

Costa Mesa – Swanson, 9-73, 2 TD.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Laguna Beach – Harrison, 12-17, 158, 2 TD, 1 INT.

Costa Mesa – Swanson, 18-42, 182, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Laguna Beach – Armstrong, 6-65, 2 TD.

Costa Mesa – Blanco, 4-48.

JUAN CARLOS GONZALEZ is a contributor to Times Community News: Follow him on Twitter: @JGonzalezSports