LBHS Football: Breakers in League Showdown Against Estancia

Laguna’s quest to capture the 2012 Orange Coast League title starts at Jim Scott Field on Friday, Oct. 12 when the Breakers travel to Estancia (4-2) and hope to derail the two-time defending champs led by the two-time league MVP, running back Robert Murtha.

Last year the Breakers finished third behind the Eagles and Costa Mesa and the same fate could happen this season.  Estancia edged the Eagles 15-13 last Friday in a game they were lucky to win against the Mesa defense. Laguna will face Mesa on Thursday, Nov. 1 at Orange Coast College for the final regular season contest and hopefully a shot for the league title. Last year Estancia won 35-14 and Mesa 63-47. Estancia holds a slim 12-11-0 series edge against Laguna.

Next week the 57^th annual homecoming game will be at Guyer Field when Laguna will host Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana. The Fairview Avenue school always gives the Breakers fits and holds a 10-6-2 series edge.

Last week was blowout as Laguna (5-0-1) overwhelmed Saddleback (2-4) 49-6 at Guyer Field. Special teams scored again as Robert Clemons ran 96 yards with the opening kickoff to put Laguna on the board with seconds into the contest. Saddleback ‘s first possession ended in a fumble that the Breakers quickly turned into a 14-0 lead off a series of runs with Nathan Lancaster scoring and Robbie McInerny’s kick making it 14-0. The final points of the quarter came off another special teams performance as Clemons scored off a 55-yard punt return, his school record fourth of the season. So far, Laguna has scored 14 touchdowns on returns in six games with three on kickoffs, seven on punts, three on interceptions and one fumble.

In the second quarter, Saddleback’s 13-play drive stalled midfield but a shanked punt gave Laguna the ball on their own 45 yard line. Four plays later, Lancaster’s 38-yard run provided the fourth touchdown.  The Roadrunners turned the ball over on a fumble on their next possession with Drake Martinez scoring on a typical one-play drive to finish the first half points.

In the second half, Saddleback took the kickoff and were midfield before throwing a pass that Drake Martinez picked off and returned 17 yards to the Laguna 43 yard mark. Three plays later found Martinez scoring on another long run with McInerny’s kick making it a 42-0 lead.

The Roadrunners could not generate any offense until late in the third quarter. Their successful 76-yard drive was assisted by three Laguna penalties and their score came with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter. Their PAT appeared good but was not counted by the officials.

Laguna scored their final touchdown with reserves as Andres DeLaRosa scampered 11 yards. The fourth quarter was limited by the running clock that held Saddleback to 13 plays and Laguna to eight.

L – Clemons 96 KOR (McInerny kick) 11:46 1^st Q

L – Lancaster 5 run (McInerny kick) 2:49 1^st Q

L – Clemons 55 Punt Return (McInerny kick) 2:44 1^st Q

L – Lancaster 38 run (McInerny kick) 5:03 2^nd Q

L – Martinez 48 run (McInerny kick) 2:27 2^nd Q

L – Martinez 45 run (McInerny kick) 8;03 3^rd Q

S – 6 run (kick disallowed) 3:52 3^rd Q

L – DelaRosa 11 run (McInerny kick) 4:06 4^th Qtr

Individual Statistics

Rush:                                                                         Martinez 6-136, Lancaster 8-130, Stewart 3-(5), Coury 3-4, DelaRosa 2-43, Clemons 1-5,

Receiving:                                                       Hexberg 1-12, Hunter 1-40

Passing:                                                                         Stewart 3-2-0 52 yards

Kick-off Returns:                                                      Clemons 1-96

Punt Returns:                                                      Clemons 1-55

Interception Returns:                                    Martinez 1-17

Punting:                                                                        none

Kickoffs:                                                                        McInerny 8 kicks, 5 touchbacks

Records set:

Season and Career Touchdowns on returns:                  Robert Clemons, 6 season, 9 career

Career scoring:                                                                        Drake Martinez 286 points, old record 276, Chris Paul 2008-10

Milestones:

96 KOR by Robert Clemons – 6^th longest in school history

Larry Stewart became the 10^th Laguna player pass for more than 2000 yards in a career (2,003)

311 team points for the season, 4^th highest full season total in 78 seasons