By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy
Football (2-8, 1-4)
Laguna closed out the season with a 31-point rally to defeat the Grizzlies Friday, Nov. 7, at Guyer Field to avoid the cellar in Orange Coast League play. Much of the talent will return next season along with players from the frosh team that finished second in the league.
Breakers were aggressive from the start recovering the opening on-side kick, but failed to move the ball until their fourth possession of the game. Already down 7-0, Laguna moved 69-yards in just five plays to score when quarterback Jack Simon ran the final 29-yards on a scramble. Sophomore Matt Hayes also helped with a 25-yard run in the drive.
Breakers got the ball right back as Chris Krantz recovered the on-side kickoff and five plays later, Simon hit Brett Tracy for a 41-yard touchdown bomb and it was 14-0. After Zach Fields recovered a fumble in the final minute of the first half, Breakers moved into scoring position quickly with an 18-yard Simon to Tracy pass play followed by a 41-yard one to Kyle McCombs. Max Carter kicked the field goal as time expired and it was 17-7 at the mid-break.
Laguna had some big plays on their three third-quarter possessions, but could not gain any consistency to score. Godinez had a harder time having earned only two first downs since the first quarter with their last one coming after a big 30-yard pass play early in the fourth quarter.
Breaker defense stuffed the Grizzly runners forcing a punt from the visitor’s 40-yard line. Kyle McCombs bolted through the line with a clean block and George Cracknell recovered the ball on the Godinez 24; Laguna was energized again. Five plays later it was 24-7 as Nick Krantz ran seven yards for the points. Laguna added one more score late in the quarter when Brett Tracy rambled nine yards for his final touchdown for the Breakers.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |||
| Godinez | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Laguna Beach | 0 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
L – Simon 29 run (Casper kick) 9:42 2nd Q
L – Tracy 41 pass from Simon (Casper kick) 7:10 2nd Q
L – Casper 21 FG 0:00 2nd Q
L – Krantz 7 run (Casper kick) 7:11 4th Q
L – Tracy 9 run (Casper kick) 2:53 4th Q
| LB | G | |
| 1st Downs | 17 | 5 |
| Rush/Yds | 44-217 | 24-111 |
| Pass Yds | 172 | 101 |
| C-A-I | 10-18-0 | 6-23-1 |
| Plays/TYG | 62-389 | 47-212 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 3-1 | 4-3 |
| Return Yds | 49 | 28 |
| Punts/Ave | 8-34.4 | 7-30.1 |
| Penalties/Yds | 8-60 | 3-15 |
| TOP: | 30:19 | 17:41 |
Photos by Doug Landrum.
Rushing: Krantz 18-99, Hayes 11-52, Monacell 2-25, Simon 6-16, Tracy 5-28, Team 2-(3)
Passing: Simon 18-10-0 172 yds 1 TD 154.2 rating
Receiving: Tracy 5-102, Krantz 2-(1), Blaser 1-13, McCombs 1-41, Henderson 1-17
Interceptions Return: Monacell 1-8
Punt Returns: Monacell 2-25, McCombs 1-16
Kickoff Returns: Krantz 1-20, Monacell 1-8
Punting: Simon 8-275 34.4 yds
Records:
Nick Krantz smashed the sophomore school record for rushing finishing the season at 871 yards on 177 carries with eight touchdowns. The old record was 503 yards by Norton Penney Jr in 2009. Krantz’s totals rank 14th overall in the 80 seasons of Laguna football. Jack Simon threw for 1,208 yards good for 17th best single season. His 12 TD passes ranks 10th and also has the 10th best career total of 2,204 yards with one season to play. Brett Tracy closed out his career catching 39 passes for 712 yards, 10th best in receiving yardage in school history. Bruce Knill had his season shortened due to injury, but the sophomore is already fourth in career point-after-touchdown scoring at Laguna.
