Martinez Pick Holds Off Godinez 42-35

Laguna Beach’s Drake Martinez read the Godinez offense perfectly in last Friday’s contest at Segerstrom Field, snagging a pass thrown by their quarterback and darting 62 yards for a score with just three and a half minutes remaining. The touchdown proved the margin of difference as the Breakers spoiled homecoming for the Grizzlies in a 42-35 victory that clinched a playoff spot.

Breakers opened the game scoring 21 first quarter points, beginning with their first possession off the opening kickoff. Robert Clemons 33-yard run on the first play of the drive was concluded with a Larry Stewart to Derek Reigel hookup on the fifth play of the drive for the score.

Godinez took their initial possession 45-yards on nine running plays before Martinez recovered a fumble on the Laguna 22.  A three-yard run by Norton Penney was followed by Robert Clemons 75-yard scamper for the second score.

The Grizzlies went 63 yards on their next possession before Penney and Martinez were able to strip the ball from the Godinez quarterback on the Laguna two-yard line. Penney picked up the loose ball on the Laguna seven and raced 93 yards for the score. The record fumble return broke a 47-year old school record set by Clancy Oliver against Rolling Hills (now known as Peninsula). Oliver is one of two  former Laguna players who went on to play in the NFL.

Up by 21 points entering the second period, Laguna appeared to have stopped Godinez again when a careless personal foul penalty awarded the Grizzlies a first down mid-field. It only took one play to start the meltdown as Godinez scored on a 50-yard run.

 

The next Breaker possession stalled midfield when Laguna failed to get a first down on a fourth down run attempt. Godinez wasted no time on a six-play drive cutting the lead to seven points. The next Breaker possession stalled again with a holding penalty, nullifying a long Clemons run. The Grizzlies then ran a seven play drive to score the tying touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the half.

 

Breakers were then caught off guard as the host school engineered a perfect on-side kick to retain possession.  The implosion continued as the inspired Grizzlies scored in the closing moments to delight their homecoming crowd.

 

After halftime, Laguna quickly got back into the game on the second play as Derek Reigel recovered a Grizzlie fumble on the host’s 23-yard line. Three plays later, the game was tied. Laguna played defense on the Grizzlies ensuing possession capped by a 10-yard loss on a sack by Travis Clawson. It took just two plays for Penney to give Laguna the lead.

The following kickoff was the third straight touchback by Robbie McInerny, but Godinez patiently drove 80 yards in 17 plays to tie the score. On the ensuing kickoff, Laguna again was caught flat-footed by the Grizzlies and gave up another on-side kick.

This time the hosts were stopped in four plays turning the ball over.  Laguna seemed ready to score but a sure easy touchdown was dropped when the receiver took their eye off the ball. Breakers then stopped themselves with a holding penalty and a sack to force a punt.

Godinez seemed destined to score the final touchdown until the Drake’s intervention gave Laguna the lead. On their final possession, the Grizzlies still managed to move 25-yards but their drive expired on a series that gained only five yards as Laguna stiffened to preserve the win.

This Friday’s game, Nov. 4, against Costa Mesa is the showdown. The Mustangs (7-1) hold a 21-10 series advantage and are an offensive juggernaut like the Breakers, averaging over 400 yards per game in total offense and 46.8 points per game in scoring. Expect an entertaining shootout at Guyer Field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Laguna Beach	21	0	14	7	42
Godinez	0	28	0	7	35

L – Reigel 16 pass from Stewart (McInerny kick) 11:08 1^st Q

L – Clemons 75 run (McInerny kick) 6:21 1^st Q

L – Penney 93 Fumble Return (McInerny kick) 0:22 1^st Q

G – 50 run (kick) 10:32 2^nd Q

G – 13 run (kick) 4:32 2^nd Q

G – 9 run (kick) 2^nd Q

G – 9 pass (kick) 0.08.5 2^nd Q

L –  Penney 29 run (McInerny kick) 10:17 3^rd Q

L – Penney 40 run (McInerny kick) 7:14 3^rd Q

G – 1 run (kick) 9:47 4^th Q

L – Martinez 62 Interception return (McInerny kick) 3:34 4^th Q

 

	LB	Godinez
1st Downs	9	26
Rush/Yds	22-234	70-372
Pass Yds	45	67
C-A-I	3-8-0	7-11-1
Plays/TYG	30-279	81-439
Fumbles/Lost	1-0	5-3
Return Yds	156	0
Punts/Ave	2-39.5	1-36.0
Penalties/Yds	9-97	5-35

 

Rushing:  Clemons 2-108, Martinez 9-59, Penney 7-87, Stewart 1-(10), Team 3-(10)

Receiving:  Riegel 1-16, Martinez 1-4, Clemons 1-25

Passing:  Stewart 3-8-0 45 yards 1 TD  126.0 rating Interception Return: Martinez 1-62

Fumble Return: Penney 1-93 Punt Return: Clemons 1-1 Punts: Iannotti 2-79 , 39.5 average

KO Return: Lancaster 1-20 Kickoffs: Mcinerny 7kicks, 5 touchbacks

 

Records:

GAME:

Fumble return – 93 yards by Norton Penney, Old record: 89 yards by Clancy Oliver Oct 23, 1964 vs. Rolling Hills (Peninsula HS). Interception return by Drake Martinez is 9^th longest in school history

77 combined points – 17^th highest scoring game; 28 points allowed in 2^nd Quarter – 4^th most ever.

SEASON:

Kick Scoring: Robbie McInerny  51 points, Old Record: 49 by Jason Crabb, 1987

Season Touchdowns: 21  Drake Martinez, old record 20 Bill O’Brien 1956, Donelle Darling 2001

Team points scored – Season  371, old record 343 by 2009 team, 11 games.