Seven Turnovers Sink Breakers

Timberwolves rout Laguna, 35-19

Laguna had only themselves to blame by delivering five consecutive turnovers on their first five possessions last Friday, Oct. 4, at Guyer Field, losing their final non-league contest of the season to what had been a winless Northwood squad.

Breakers took the opening kickoff 13 yards in six plays before losing the ball to an aggressive Timberwolf team that seemed determined to strip the ball from Laguna runners on every play. Northwood penalties killed their offensive first attempt, forcing a punt and pinning Laguna back on their own six-yard line.

Laguna quickly went 25 yards in four play attempts before Nathan Lancaster broke for a 67-yard scamper that ended when the Timberwolves were successful in stripping the ball from the unsuspecting ball carrier. From the two yard line, an inspired Northwood team drove back 98 yards in 13 plays including a key fake punt on a fourth and seven from their own five yard line to score with just over a minute remaining in the quarter.

The Breaker gifts continued into the second period, but it took the fifth turnover, a fumble on the Laguna 27, for Northwood to score again on a six play drive near the end of the first half. After 50 straight games scoring in the first half, Laguna has now gone scoreless in consecutive first half games.

The Timberwolves extended their lead with an eight-play drive to open the second half as a deflated Breaker squad attempted to stay competitive.  Northwood scored two more touchdowns to complete their scoring both on interception gifts from Laguna. One was returned for a score, the other required a single play drive to complete. Laguna finally got on the board with a two-play drive by Andres DeLaRosa that ended with a 69-yard run to break the scoring drought. Laguna added two more scores against the Northwood reserves with some effective passing by Jack Simon, now well on his way to break the season sophomore passing records for a quarterback.

Up next, Laguna opens their eighth season in Orange Coast League play this Friday, Oct. 11, facing Saddleback (0-5) at Segerstrom High School on a a natural grass field at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners continue to be the hard luck squad of the league and the Breakers should bounce back if they can stop the turnovers.

The following week Laguna will meet Estancia (2-3) at Laguna for the 58^th homecoming contest. Breakers can repeat as league champs if they can play to the level they showed earlier this season.  Laguna faces pass-happy Calvary Chapel (4-1) on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Estancia, Godinez (3-2) on Halloween at Segerstrom, and closeout the regular season at home with Costa Mesa (2-3) on Nov. 8.

Key games involving league rivals, Godinez plays Calvary this weekend (10-10) at Estancia, Godinez faces Costa Mesa at Estancia on 10-18 and Calvary faces Costa Mesa on 11-1,

All-time Orange Coast League Football –(League Games Only)

STATISTICS 2013 GAME # 5 vs NORTHWOOD

N – 4 run (kick) 1:15 1^st Q

N – 5 run (kick) 2:04 2^nd Q

N – 8 pass (kick) 9:28 3^rd Q

N – 44 Interception return (kick) 4:01 3^rd Q

N – 15 pass (kick) 1:01 3^rd Q

L – DeLaRosa 69 run (Knill kick) 0:11.6 3^rd Q

L – Smith 31 pass from Simon (Knill kick failed) 5:00 4^th Q

L –  Lancaster 9 run (Simon pass failed) 1:27 4^th Q

Rush:

Lancaster 16-120, DeLaRosa 13-118, Simon 5-(21), Smith 1-(3)

Rec:

Hampton 5-85, Smith 4-74, Lancaster 1-15, DeLaRosa 1-6

Pass:

Simon 11-28-3, 180 yds 1 TD 83.6 rating

IR:            none

PR:           Lancaster 1-6

KR:           Lancaster 1-14, DeLaRosa 5-79

Punts:      Simon – 61, 40 (1- inside 20)  2-50.5

Pass Defense Rating:            153.3  (93.4 YTD)

Milestones – Nathan Lancaster

Career rushing yards is now 2,204 , 4^th best in school history

4^th in career scoring with 221 points (3^rd has 238)

Tied for 6^th with career return touchdowns with 3

Tied for 4^th in career touchdowns with 36

3^rd in career rushing touchdowns at 28

Sophomore Quarterbacks at Laguna