Saddleback too much for Laguna Beach
SANTA ANA — Laguna Beach High’s football team started and ended the scoring of Friday’s Orange Coast League game against Saddleback but it was the host Roadrunners who put up plenty of points in between to come away with a victory.
Saddleback twice came back from a touchdown deficit early in the game and surged to a comfortable lead before claiming a 49-28 homecoming game victory at Segerstrom High.
Laguna couldn’t contain a physical Roadrunners rushing attack, spearheaded by junior Geovanni Estrada, who ran for a game-high 187 yards and four touchdowns.
Estrada scored the first two touchdowns for Saddleback, which picked up its first league win to move to 1-1, and 4-3 overall.
Laguna, which lost in the final minute last week to Costa Mesa, slipped to 0-2 in league and 2-5 overall.
“What we have, is a young team that continues to learn as the season continues,” Laguna Coach Ted Clarke said. “Every snap, we are getting better. It’s hard to take a loss like this but you can’t get down on the kids because they continue to work hard and get better.
“When we go up against finesse teams, we do OK. But when we go up against a physical team, like Saddleback, we don’t do well. We had a tough time stopping them tonight.”
Saddleback’s offense, directed by its veteran quarterback, senior Ozzy Zuno, took over in the second quarter. The game, however couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for Laguna.
On the opening kickoff, Saddleback return man Rene Gonzales fumbled and the ball was grabbed in mid-air by Laguna’s Ryan Blaser who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. George Cracknell’s point-after gave the Breakers a 7-0 lead 10 seconds into the game.
“That was a great way to open the ball game,” Clarke said.
Saddleback answered on its first offensive series. A nine-play drive covering 59 yards ended when Estrada scored on a five-yard run two minutes later. Laguna also had a short field to work with later in the quarter when quarterback/defensive back Jack Simon intercepted Zuno at the Saddleback 41 and returned it to the 29. Simon also had a big play moments later, when he delivered a strike over the middle to receiver Matt Hayes for a touchdown. The play came on third-and-14 from the 16.
Earlier in the drive, the Breakers converted key third- and fourth-down plays.
The point-after was wide left, but Laguna led, 13-7, with seven seconds left in the opening quarter.
The game got away from the Breakers late in the second quarter on a 21-0 explosion by Saddleback in the final 4:39 of the half.
First, Estrada scored on a two-yard run and Emanuel Oropeza’s conversion gave the Roadrunners a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Laguna gambled on its ensuing possession when Simon was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-one run from the Laguna 22. Saddleback cashed in six plays later when running back Pedro Leon fought his way to the end zone from two yards out.
The Roadrunners got the ball back at the Laguna 37 when defensive back Jonathon Reyes came off an interception off a deflected Simon pass with 44 seconds left in the half. The Roadrunners got down to the 25 where on third down, Leon went straight up the middle to the end zone.
Saddleback went into the break holding a 28-13 lead.
The Roadrunners extended their lead to 35-13 four minutes into the second half on Estrada’s 11-yard touchdown run. Laguna countered with an impressive, 65-yard scoring drive that took only five plays. Simon went 43 yards untouched around left end for the score, and then hit Hayes with a two-point pass, to pull the Breakers to within 35-21 with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
Estrada’s fourth TD of the game, a 14-yard run, and a 40-yard scoring pass delivered nicely from Zuno to receiver Jacob Roa which came on the first play of the fourth quarter, put the game away. Laguna put together one final scoring drive which ended when Simon went around left end to score on a four-yard run.
The Breakers return home next week for their homecoming game. They’ll host Estancia, which defeated Costa Mesa, 23-0 Friday, at 7 p.m. at Guyer Field.
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Football Season Log (2-4)
0...Valley Christian...50
16...Bolsa Grande...12
0...Segerstrom...45
18...Westminster...28
21...Sage Hill...17
9...*Costa Mesa...14
28...*Saddleback...49
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)
