Football (2-5, 0-2)
Laguna had a very quick start against the Roadrunners last Friday, Oct. 16, at Jaguar Stadium on the Segerstrom High School campus and looked once again like the spoiler in the 2015 Orange Coast League race.
Those dreams ended in the second quarter resulting in three Saddleback touchdowns in less than five minutes to close out the period and secure the hosts their first OCL victory of the year. Laguna never sustained a serious comeback threat after that second quarter run.
The game opened with a spark as Ryan Blaser stole the ball from the Saddleback kick-off returner and dashed 24 yards for the first touchdown with just 10 seconds off the clock. George Cracknall’s kick made it 7-0 Laguna.
The Roadrunners came back with a nine-play drive to tie the score and Laguna’s first possession went just 12 yards before the Breakers punted.
The Roadrunner’s second possession was short as Jack Simon intercepted the third down pass, returning the ball 17 yards to set up Laguna’s second touchdown. Matt Hays scored off a Simon pass, but Cracknall’s kick was wide and Laguna led 13-7 entering the second quarter. After an exchange of long possessions, Saddleback took the lead on a six-play drive, scoring with just 4:39 remaining in the half. Breakers were stopped on the ground going for a single yard on a fourth down. Saddleback quickly scored again. Another gift arrived on the Breakers next scrimmage play as a Jack Simon pass was tipped by the receiver into the waiting hands of a Roadrunner defender. Five plays later, the Breakers were heading into halftime down 28-13.
In the second half, Laguna tried to come back, going 34 yards on the opening possession before turning the ball over on downs at the Saddleback 26. Roadrunners scored on a 74-yard, six-play drive, extending the lead to 35-13. A flicker of hope occurred on the ensuing possession as Simon ran 43 yards for a score and added a surprise conversion pass to Matt Hayes for two points that caught the hosts flat-footed.
Still the gifts continued as a Simon fumble of a handoff gave Saddleback another easy TD late in the third quarter. Saddleback leads the all-time series at 7-5 and Laguna is now 5-2 at Jaguar Stadium.
Up next is Laguna’s 60th homecoming game Friday, Oct. 23, with Estancia at Guyer Field
2015 Game # 7 – Saddleback Statistics
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | ||
| Laguna Beach | 13 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 28 |
| Saddleback | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
L – Blaser 24 Fumble Return (Cracknall kick) 11:50 1st Q
S – 5 run (kick) 9:10 1st Q
L – Hayes 15 pass from Simon (kick wide) 0:07 1st Q
S – 2 run (kick) 4:39 2nd Q
S – 3 run (kick) 1:00 2nd Q
S – 22 pass (kick) 0:08 2nd Q
S – 6 run (kick) 7:46 3rd Q
L – Simon 43 run (Hayes pass from Simon) 5:18 3rd Q
S – 14 run (kick) 2:52 3rd Q
S – 40 pass (kick) 11:49 4th Q
L – Simon 5 run (Cracknall kick) 0:44 4th Q
| LB | S | |
| 1st Downs | 12 | 19 |
| Rush/Yds | 28-95 | 47-286 |
| Pass Yds | 141 | 126 |
| C-A-I | 19-27-1 | 7-14-1 |
| Plays/TYG | 55-236 | 61-412 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Return Yds | 41 | 28 |
| Punts/Ave | 4-35.3 | 2-33.5 |
| Penalties/Yds | 5-31 | 6-50 |
| Time of Poss | 25:22 | 22:38 |
Rushing
Simon 17-90, Hayes 1-(4), Cracknall 3-0, Syvertsen 5-12, Firebaugh 1-0, Team 1-(3)
Passing
Simon 27-19-1 141 yds 1 TD Rating 119.1
Receiving
Hayes 10-114, Cracknall 3-19, Harrison 3-0, Armstrong 1-8, Lusk 1-0, Stewart 1-0
Kickoff Returns
Hayes 2-37, Cracknall 3-50, Harrison 1-9
Fumble Return
Blaser 1-24
Interception Return
Simon 1-17
Punting
Simon 2-83 , Cracknall 2-58
Milestones:
Jack Simon is now # 6 in career Total Offense with 3,525 yards.
2015 season he ranks #15 in total offense and #22 in rushing
ORANGE COAST LEAGUE STANDINGS:
| League | OVERALL | ||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | W | L | T | Pct |
| Calvary Chapel/SA | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.571 |
| Costa Mesa | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.714 |
| Estancia | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.250 |
| Godinez | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0.429 |
| Saddleback | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.571 |
| Laguna Beach | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0.286 |
