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Clarke Era begins

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The Laguna Beach High football team is just hours away from making its debut in the 2015 prep football season, and Friday’s opener against Cerritos Valley Christian will give new head Coach Ted Clarke his first game-time walk along the home sideline at Guyer Field.

The Breakers and Crusaders kickoff at 7 p.m.

Clarke said he’s ready to get a first look at his first squad in action.

“We’re excited to get the season underway,” he said. “We’re going up against a Valley Christian team that is a pretty decent football team. They have some athletes on that team.”

Laguna is coming off a 2-8 season and return five starters — four on offense, from that team that finished in fifth place in the Orange Coast League. Senior Jack Simon returns at quarterback for the Breakers.

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A senior-laden Valley Christian team won seven of 11 games a year ago. The Crusaders finished second in the Olympic League and reached the first round of the CIF Southern Section Northwest Division playoffs. Clarke said the Crusaders lost 19 of 34 seniors from that team but have culled new players from their junior varsity program which produced back-to-back 10-0 seasons the past two years.

Heading the Crusaders on offense is senior quarterback Jesse Smith. The running game is led by senior running backs Robert Downs and Quaid Kawana, and senior fullback Matt Sigala.

Valley Christian averaged 30 points per game in their seven wins. The Crusaders’ junior varsity team averaged 50 points a game in its 10-0 season last year.

“Our goal is to control this game,” Clarke said. “We’re looking to control the clock and control the tempo. They scored a lot of points last year, and feel they can score even more this year.”

Laguna scrimmaged three schools — Pico Rivera El Rancho, Anaheim Western, and Fullerton Sunny Hills, on Aug. 21 at Sunny Hills. The Breakers’ defense came up with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by junior safety Ryan Blasier, against El Rancho, and had an interception against Western.

“Our kids responded well in those scrimmages,” Clarke said. “It was not a matter of Xs and Os. When we walked off the field afterward, we said, ‘we can play football.’”

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Breakers schedule

Friday: Valley Christian, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4: Bolsa Grande, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11: at Segerstrom, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18: Westminster, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25: at Sage Hill, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9: *Costa Mesa, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16: at *Saddleback (Segerstrom High), 7 p.m.

Oct. 23: *Estancia (homecoming), 7 p.m.

Oct. 30: at *Calvary Chapel (Ocean View High), 7 p.m.

Nov. 6: at *Godinez (Segerstrom High), 7 p.m.

(*denotes Orange Coast League game)

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