Big night ahead for Breakers

Coming off its most impressive performance of the year, the Laguna Beach High football team will attempt to keep that momentum going tonight in one of its most important outings of the 2006 season.

At 7 p.m. at Guyer Field, it’s Homecoming, it’s Senior Night and it’s the final home game of the season all rolled into one evening.

And oh, yeah — a red-hot Estancia team is heading into town for a key Orange Coast League clash.

“I am thoroughly impressed with this team,” Laguna Coach Jimmy Nolan said of Estancia. “We’ve watched them play a few times. They are good everywhere. They’re extremely physical. Their quarterback is great. Their running backs run hard and are big. Their O-line is dominant and they are huge.”

Tonight’s game pits two teams who are undefeated in league play albeit, the league schedule is just one game old. However, the winner of tonight’s game takes over sole possession of first place in the standings heading into the final week of the regular season.

Laguna had a two-week bye to prepare for its league opener against Calvary Chapel on Oct. 26, and despite saying he was “disappointed” in his team’s focus and preparation during that layoff, the Breakers responded with their most thorough effort yet in a 28-7 victory on the big stage of LeBard Stadium at Orange Coast College.

The Breakers used a potent ground attack that nearly racked up 400 yards to score their most points in a game this year. Zach Smith and Charley Bowman each topped the 100-yard rushing mark and Devin Hands ran for 78 more.

Smith scored on runs of five and 51 yards and Bowman had TD runs cover one and 64 yards.

Nolan acknowledged Smith, Bowman, Hands and middle linebacker Justin Lendahl as Laguna’s key performers in the victory.

“We executed well in every facet of the game,” Nolan said. “We blocked well, ran hard, tackled well, covered excellent and had no turnovers. I saw a new team out there. I believe our tough pre-season strength of schedule did us some good.”

The victory ended a losing streak at three games for Laguna, which brings an overall mark of 3-5 into tonight’s meeting.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are 6-2 and have won four of their past five games, the latest coming last week in a 17-0 win over rival Costa Mesa.

Estancia’s defense has held four of its opponents to a touchdown or less and has two shutouts to its credit. The Eagles, however, have given up plenty of points in the two games they’ve lost (28-7 to Buena Park, and 32-7 to West Ranch).

Laguna and Estancia have a common opponent this year in La Quinta of Westminster. The Breakers won that game by a score of 18-0 and the Eagles ran it up on the Aztecs, 58-20.

“This team plays with lots of passion and they are tough as nails,” Nolan said of the Eagles. “We expect them to try to run the ball and only pass when they have to. I expect them to key on our passing game. Either way, I am not concerned with Estancia, or anyone for that matter. I am concerned with only my boys.

“If we can show up and do what we’re capable of, then we can beat anyone in this league. Now, if we decide to show up and play soft, Estancia will beat us bad. Thus, it’s my job to worry about my guys. Not enough time to worry about Estancia.”

Prior to tonight’s kickoff, Laguna will honor the seniors in a pregame ceremony. At halftime, the school will crown its Homecoming queen and present the 2006-07 court.

“The majority of our team is young,” Nolan said. “We start more sophomores than juniors and seniors. The average age on this team is 15. That cannot be an excuse. These boys have started to mature at the right time. I pray we can keep up the intensity, focus and discipline. We all have to believe we’re all seniors.

“My wish is obviously is to get the seniors a win, but win or lose, I expect these guys to leave everything and more on that field Friday night. Win or lose, we can hang our heads high if we spend everything.”

Laguna and Estancia will meet for the 18th time tonight. The series began during the 1966 season — a Laguna win — but took an 18-year hiatus until it resumed in 1984 for two more years. Following a two-year break, the teams started to play each other annually from 1988 through 2001.

The last meeting in 2001 was a 17-6 win for Laguna.