High School Football: Breakers pumped for homecoming

The first one, is done. Time, now, for an even bigger Orange Coast League test for the Laguna Beach High football team.

The Breakers, as pretty much expected, ran past host Saddleback, 55-19, on Oct. 11 to open their bid for a repeat OCL title. They continue on that quest Friday when they play host to Estancia.

Laguna’s 58th annual homecoming game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Guyer Field.

The winner of the Estancia-Laguna game has gone on to win the last four OCL championships.

“It’s another big game for both teams,” Laguna Coach Corey Brown said. “The last few years, it’s been us, or them, winning league.”

Laguna (4-2) set up Friday’s encounter by defeating Saddleback at Segerstrom High. After the Roadrunners had tied the score (7-7) in the first quarter, the Breakers scored 27 consecutive points, to open up 34-7 lead.

They went into the locker room leading, 41-13.

In the first half, senior running back Nathan Lancaster scored Laguna’s first three touchdowns on runs of one, 44 and 21 yards, and later scored on a 66-yard run. Senior running back Andres DeLaRosa powered his way for TD runs of eight and 78 yards in the half.

The backfield duo also ran for two more scores in the third quarter, first with Lancaster scoring on a 45-yard run. DeLaRosa closed out the Laguna scoring with an 18-yard TD run to take the lead to 55-13.

“I thought we did a great job, overall,” Brown said. “Our offense had some success with Nathan having another big game. He was amazing. And, Andres going over 150 yards, was great. Our defense did its job, too, and everyone got to play.

“The most important thing to come out of Friday, is that we won our first league game.”

Lancaster ran 18 times and accumulated 335 yards, the second-most yards in a single game in Laguna Beach football history. His five touchdowns tied the school record for most TDs scored in a game, and his total points (30) tied for second-most in a game.

Lancaster now has 2,539 career rushing yards which is third-best in school history. He needs 68 yards Friday to move into the No. 2 spot.

Lancaster also is third in career-wise in scoring (257 points), rushing touchdowns (33), and total touchdowns (36).

DeLaRosa rushed only eight times, but racked up 155 yards and three scores.

“Andres [DeLaRosa] did a great job, in terms of what he did with limited touches of the football,” Brown said. “He’s also our anchor in the secondary. He’s a stud and a very good football player.”

The Breakers racked up the second-most rushing yards (551), and total yards (585), in a game in program history. The 55 points were the most scored this year by the Laguna offense.

Defensively, the Breakers limited Saddleback to 242 total yards and eight first downs. Junior defensive back Jake Smith intercepted a pass and returned it 29 yards down to the Saddleback 16-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

Also in the fourth quarter, senior Keaton Martinez, back in action after sitting out the Oct. 4 Northwood game, recovered a fumble on a Saddleback kickoff return.

The league-opening win allowed Laguna to put an end to a two-game winless streak, and moved the Breakers back into the CIF Southern Section Southern Division rankings. This week, they are ranked ninth.

Estancia (2-4) started its OCL schedule Oct. 11 against city rival Costa Mesa. For the first time in four years, the Eagles were defeated by the Mustangs, 31-18. Eagles quarterback Connor Brown threw two touchdown passes and rushed for a score in the loss.

“They’ll be fired up coming to our place,” Brown said of the Eagles. “They don’t want to start out 0-2 in league. We have to come out and set out tone, to play our game, and not let Estancia come here and establish what they want to do.”

Brown said the Breakers will have senior linebacker LG Graves back in the lineup for the Estancia game. Graves sat out the Saddleback game due to an ankle sprain.

Laguna will crown its homecoming king and queen during Friday’s halftime festivities. Brown said that DeLaRosa is one of the nominees for homecoming king.

Following Friday’s Estancia game, the Breakers have a short week to prepare for their next game as they travel Thursday to face eighth-ranked Calvary Chapel at 7 p.m. at Estancia High.

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Breakers Schedule (4-2)

48...Bolsa Grande...17

32...at University...7

35...Rancho Dominguez...0

12...St. Margaret’s...35

19...Northwood...35

55...*Saddleback...19

Friday: *Estancia (homecoming), 7 p.m.

Thursday (Oct. 24): vs. *Calvary Chapel (at Estancia High), 7 p.m.

Oct. 31: vs. *Godinez (at Segerstrom High), 7 p.m.

Nov. 8: *Costa Mesa (Senior Night), 7 p.m.

(*denotes Orange Coast League game)