Breakers Hold off Knights 28-23
Laguna players overcame a number hurdles but still managed to hold off a solid Bishop Montgomery squad Friday at Guyer field. The team’s key scorer, Drake Martinez, was fighting flu, and speedster Robert Clemons was doubtful due to a broken hand. In addition, one of the squad’s fathers had lost a struggle with cancer and the team had attended his service this past week, providing a somber and reflecting moment for the squad.
Even so, the Breakers (3-0) are off to one of Laguna’s 10 best starts in 77 seasons of varsity play.
The most recent contest opened with another Robbie McInerny kickoff into the end zone. Bishop controlled the clock with a long 15-play drive that ended on a fumble at Laguna’s 13-yard line. Credit Ricky Coury’s sack of the quarterback that gave Travis Clawson an opportunity to recover the ball and stop the drive. Breakers returned the favor with a fumble of their own on their second play and did not touch the football the rest of the first period. The Knights scored the first points with a 25-yard field goal with three minutes gone in the second period. The 10-play drive was their second possession.
Breakers finally scored on their third possession set up by a 40-yard interception return by Norton Penney. Breakers went three yards in three plays for their first tally. Laguna almost added points near the end of the first half but had two field goal attempts blocked by the large Bishop rush.
Laguna adjusted in the second half, scoring on their second possession with a six-play drive to extend their lead to 14-2. The Knights came right back with a seven-play ground attack to keep pace. Laguna responded with a three-play drive highlighted by 20- and 22-yard runs by Clemons.
The tense fourth period had things looking grim after the Knights cut Laguna’s lead to 21-17 and ended Laguna’s next possession with a 48-yard interception return.
Fortune, however, was on Laguna’s side as Bishop Montgomery fumbled the ball past mid-field on the very first play with the fumble recovery by Larry Stewart.
Four plays later, Penny’s 48-yard run made it 28-17. Montgomery scored again but the on-side kick attempt was recovered by Laguna. Breakers could not run out the clock, giving Bishop four more plays. Zach Jaffe broke up their first pass attempt. He and Norton Penney took care of the second try with great pass coverage. The third pass attempt was over-thrown and the last play for the Knights was a dropped pass.
2011 GAME # 3 STATISTICS
B Montgomery
0
3
7
13
23
Laguna Beach
0
7
14
7
28
BM – 25 FG (9:09 2nd Q)
L – Martinez 1 run (McInerny kick) 3:24 2nd Q
L – Penney 9 pass from Stewart (McInerny kick) 6:07 3rd Q
BM – 7 run (kick) 2:53 3rd Q
L – Clemons 22 run (McInerny kick) 1:56 3rd Q
BM – 6 run (kick) 9:10 4th Q
L – Penney 48 run (McInerny kick) 5:47 4th Q
BM – 2 run (run failed) 1:34 4th Q
LB
BM
1st Downs
9
23
Rush/Yds
30-209
59-330
Pass Yds
90
34
C-A-I
8-15-1
4-12-1
Plays/TYG
45-299
299
Fumbles/Lost
2-1
5-3
Return Yds
40
48
Punts/Ave
2-17.5
1-37
Penalties/Yds
4-40
7-43
Individual
Rushing: Penney 8-70, Martinez 13-64, Clemons 8-75, Team 1-0
Receiving: Martinez 1-20, Reigel 3-49, Penney 3-16, Clemons 1-5
Passing: Stewart 7-14-1 56 yds 1 TD 92.9 rating
Penney 1-1-0 34 yards 385.6 rating
Combined: 112.4 rating
Int Return: Penney 1-40
KOR Lancaster 1-16
Punting: Iannotti 2-35 yds 17.5 ave
K Offs: McInerny 4 of 5 Touchbacks
Up Next: Mary Star of the Sea.
The catholic school located in San Pedro. The school was founded in 1954 but became an all-girls school when Fermin Lasuen opened. When Lasuen closed in 1971, the school became co-ed again. The school relocated to a new campus in 2007 but games are still played at the old school site, Daniels Field on W 13rth Street.
Year opened: 1954, Enrollment: 500, Colors: Navy and Gold, Nickname: Stars, Last League title: 2009
League: Del Rey – St Bernard, La Salle, Bosco Tech, Cantwell, Verbum Dei, Bishop Mongomery
Last Year: Laguna won 26-21. Stars are 0-3 for this year losing to Notre Dame/Riverside 20-15, El Segundo 42-7, Aquinas 24-14.
