Laguna looking to become road warriors

Mike Sciacca

The Laguna Beach High football team continued to roll in the early

portion of the 2003 prep football season last Saturday as the

Breakers dominated host La Quinta, 50-7, at Bolsa Grande High.

Laguna, which soundly defeated Palos Verdes in its opener on Sept.

5, hit the road Thursday for the third consecutive week.

The playing surroundings Thursday were quite familiar for the

Breakers, who traveled back to Bolsa Grande High to battle the host

Matadors (0-1) in a nonleague game.

Results from Thursday’s game were not available at press time.

Although pleased with wins in the first two weeks of the season,

Laguna Coach Dave Holland still sees areas in which his team needs

improvement.

“We still have some things to work on before we get to league, but

these first five weeks of the season gives us the chance to work

those certain areas,” he said.

“One of my main concerns heading into the La Quinta game was our

defense but they really showed signs of improvement from the Palos

Verdes game.”

The Breakers defense limited La Quinta to a single touchdown and

in two games, have yielded three, overall.

Offensively, Laguna scored 50 points in a game for the first time

since the 1967 team scored 54 in a victory over Mission Viejo in the

regular season finale.

The 50 points also were the most Laguna has scored in a game since

the 1999 team pinned 49 on La Quinta.

“We had some real good performances on both sides of the ball,”

Holland said.

Receiver/defensive back Jake Wheeler established a school

single-game record with two interception returns for a touchdowns and

also caught a touchdown pass.

Holland also noted the “solid work” by quarterback Alex Wilson,

running back Juan Luna, tight end/linebacker Brett O’Connor and

offensive lineman/linebacker Sean DeGarmo.

He also lauded the play of lineman Kris Pearson, defensive end

Chris Jenkins and tight end/running back/linebacker Brett Landrum.

“I was pleased with the way they played and the improvement they

showed,” Holland said. “One guy who does a great all-around job, too,

is Elliot Whalen. He’s done some great things and he always around

the ball. He’s a very valuable player.”

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2003 Log

34 Palos Verdes 13

50 La Quinta 7

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