Breakers go for two in a row

It came in Week 1 of the season.

Victory No. 1 for the Laguna Beach High football team, first-year head Coach Ted Clarke, and in the 81st year of the program, unfolded Sept. 4 at Guyer Field. On that night, the Breakers led all the way in taking a 16-12 victory from visiting Bolsa Grande.

The Breakers will be looking to add to that momentum Friday when they travel to face Segerstrom. The nonleague game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Segerstrom High.

In spite of getting his first win at the school last week, Clarke deferred the victory to his team.

“We’re obviously thrilled we picked up that win, but I’m more excited for the kids than anything else,” he said. “This is about them. They have worked hard, done the things they needed to do during the week in order to prepare for Bolsa Grande, and to see them get a paycheck and cash it out at the end of the week, was just great.”

Laguna, which dropped a 50-0 season-opening game to Cerritos Valley Christian in Zero Week of the season two weeks ago, had a shutout going through three quarters. The Breakers took a 16-0 lead into the final 12 minutes.

The Breakers won despite not having three starters (Ryan Blaser, Rob Luecke, George Cracknell) available for the game.

“The hard work our [coaching] staff and kids put in for that game really helped us improve from the Valley Christian game,” Clarke said. “Our coaches identified problem areas that needed correcting from our opening game, and the kids really responded to what they were being taught. They are getting better, and I thought the story of the game was Jack Simon”

Simon was, and rewrote a piece of the school’s record book in the process.

The senior quarterback rushed for 184 yards on 28 attempts, setting the program record for rushing yards in a game by a quarterback. The total also ranks 27th all-time for a rusher in a single game.

“That was really nice to see,” Clarke said of the record night for Simon. “It was also nice that he scored the first touchdown of the season.”

Simon was in on Laguna’s initial score of 2015. His six-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Blake Lusk capped a nine-play drive which included six runs for 36 yards by Simon that took the ball to the Bolsa Grande six-yard line. Simon also ran in a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.

Sophomore back Hank Syvertsen next reached the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown run with 5:43 remaining in the first half. Simon hit junior Matt Hayes with a two-point pass, and the Breakers opened up a 16-0 lead they’d eventually take into halftime.

Bolsa Grande, which was playing its season opener, scored early in the fourth quarter and got to within 16-12 with 2:48 left in the game. The Matadors recovered an onside kick at the Laguna 49 and had a shot at a comeback victory, but following a run for no gain and an incomplete pass, Laguna sophomore Adam Armstrong came up with a key interception. Armstrong caught the ball at his own 24 and returned it out to the Laguna 38 with 54 seconds remaining.

The Breakers then ran out the clock.

“The kids did a great job, really, and played a full, 48 minutes of football,” Clarke said. “To have Adam Armstrong close out the game with that pick, was a nice way to cap the win.”

Laguna rushed for 233 yards with Syvertsen gaining 57 on 10 carries, and now holds a 9-3 edge in the all-time series with Bolsa Grande.

The Breakers now face a Segerstrom team that is in search of its first win. The Jaguars, a senior-led team and considered a favorite in the upcoming Golden West League title chase, have struggled offensively in scoring 16 points in two games, and are 0-1-1 overall.

They began the season two weeks ago and played Santa Ana Valley to an 8-8 tie. Last week, they fell, 36-6, to University.

“They may be 0-1-1, but they are good,” Clarke said. “They are big, fast and physical and have a lot of experience. It will be another big challenge for us.”

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Football Season Log (1-1)

0...Valley Christian...50

16...Bolsa Grande...12

Friday: 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)