Happy ending for L.B.

When the Laguna Beach football team went through pregame drills in its season finale Nov. 9, head coach Jonathan Todd said he was worried about how his Breakers would perform moments later against host Estancia.

“We didn’t look too sharp in warm-ups and that concerned me a lot,” he said. “So, I gathered them up on the sideline and gave them a talk before they took the field. They looked like a different team out there, from the one I saw in warm-ups.”

Laguna went on to win in its final game of its 2007 season by defeating the Eagles, 17-13, in Orange Coast League play at Newport Harbor High’s Davidson Field.

The win was important in many ways for the Breakers but most notably, it ended a losing skid at seven games and sent them into the off-season on a high note.

It also spoiled Estancia’s bid to win the league title outright.

“I’m really glad for these kids,” Todd said. “We really need to get that win. It was tough in league for us this year. We had some calls go against us in our previous league games and this was our final game to show who we are.

“The kids were really happy after the game. We were able to go off the field with a real good feeling.”

Laguna, which finished 2-8 overall and 1-2 in league, trailed 7-0 after the first quarter but scored 17 points in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead at the half.

The scoring came on a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charley Bowman to Andrew Paddon, a two-yard quarterback sneak by Bowman that capped an 80-yard drive and a 37-yard field goal by John Snedegar just seconds before the end of the half.

The 17 points were the most scored by the Breakers in a single quarter this year.

“Charley was just clutch out there,” Todd said of his senior quarterback. “He made some big plays and had a huge run that led to our second touchdown.

“Defensively, Jeremy Kaplan had another big game. He’s averaged more than 10 tackles per game in league and was right there again in this game.”

Kaplan also had a fumble recovery and Dillon Pierce an interception, Todd said.

Todd was also impressed with the defense’s ability to successfully go “shark,” a scheme where at least nine players swarm in on a play.

“It was really great to see so many of those ‘shark’ situations on game film,” he said. “Our defense was just cracking out there.”

Todd said he enjoyed his first year as head coach at his alma mater and that things look bright for the future.

“We lose five seniors but have several starters back for next year,” he said. “Our frosh/soph team went undefeated in league and that is a boost for us.

“I’m really looking forward to next year. We should improve a lot.”