Laguna Beach football looks to regroup

The Laguna Beach High football team had a different game plan for

last Friday’s Pacific Coast League opener against Northwood.

When you meet a program as sound as the one found at Northwood, a

team must be thoroughly prepared.

You might say that Laguna entered the game against the favored

Timberwolves on a wing and a prayer.

Actually, it was the wing T, an offense coach Jimmy Nolan

installed for the game.

“I took a gamble,” Nolan said. “I thought I could catch Northwood

with the element of surprise by installing the wing T. This plan

backfired on us, and we were completely shut down all first half, and

it put our defense in horrible position again and again.

“That was a bad call on my part, especially when our offense had

done so well all year long. So, the boys didn’t get beat as bad as

the score indicated. Rather, I did. It’s my fault. I want to take

personal responsibility for the severity of that loss.”

Northwood scored the game’s first 38 points and coasted to a 38-6

victory.

The loss was the first of the season for Laguna, which is 3-1-1

overall.

“We lost to a great team,” Nolan said. “Those guys and coaches

should know that they are a class act and have one heck of a

program.”

Laguna avoided a shutout in the fourth quarter when quarterback

Charley Bowman and Garrett Preston teamed up on a 35-yard touchdown

pass play.

Running back and free safety George Chheng played solidly for the

Breakers, as did Kevin Kelly on defense.

“He constantly took on triple-team blocks and did a great job on

the defensive line,” Nolan said of Kelly. “Kevin is getting better

every week, and we are so thankful he joined us from the baseball and

basketball teams this season. Thank you to his coaches for sharing a

great athlete.”

Laguna will try to regroup tonight when it visits defending league

and CIF-Southern Section Division IX champion Tesoro.

The Titans will be in a foul mood: They lost at home last week by

a surprising 44-10 score to San Clemente.

The loss ended a 13-game win streak for Tesoro, which is now 3-1

and playing its league opener against the Breakers.

“We are really amazed that San Clemente was able to beat Tesoro

the way they did,” Nolan said. “Tesoro is as good as it gets. They

have awesome skills, size, speed, tons of depth, toughness, returning

CIF champs and great coaching.

“We think this is a great opportunity. How many chances in life

will these guys have to compete against the very best? Win or lose,

this will be a great learning experience for our guys. Our backs are

really against the wall right now with all the injuries, and we’re

coming off a bad loss. And we’re playing away in a hostile

environment. They average over 5,000 loyal fans a game, and we don’t

travel all that well.”

Laguna will be without the services of five injured starters who

will not dress for tonight’s game. Among them is Chheng, who suffered

what Nolan called a “severe” concussion that the senior played

through against Northwood.

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Laguna Beach Breakers

(3-1-1)

40 Centennial/Compton 19

34 at La Quinta 13

14 at Ocean View 14

31 Costa Mesa 9

6 Northwood 38

Tonight at Tesoro 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 vs. Corona del Mar (at Newport 7 p.m.

Harbor High)

Oct. 27 vs. Beckman (at Tustin High) 7 p.m.

Nov. 4 University 7 p.m.

Nov. 11 Calvary Chapel 7 p.m.

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