Breakers toughen for Titans

Tonight affords the Laguna Beach High football team one final tuneup before it embarks on its upcoming Orange Coast League schedule, as the Breakers host Notre Dame of Riverside in a nonleague clash.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Guyer Field.

Laguna will be out to win its first game in five weeks and improve upon its 1-5 record.

The Breakers suffered their fourth-straight loss last Friday when they fell, 33-7 at Capistrano Valley.

Laguna’s defense played tough against a big, veteran Cougars offense in the first half and trailed only 7-0 late in the second quarter.

The Cougars, however, added another touchdown to take a 13-0 halftime lead.

The Cougars capitalized on a fatigued Breakers defense in the second half where they scored the first 20 points before Laguna averted a shutout on a 10-yard bootleg run into the end zone by Charley Bowman.

Despite containing the potent Cougars in the first half, the Breakers ended up giving up more than 360 rushing yards.

“I thought our defense played tough all night but our guys just wore down in the second half,” Laguna Coach Jonathan Todd said. “I thought that the kids came out and played Capo hard. We trailed by only 7-0 before they got that late touchdown to end the half.”

Todd said the offense played well against a tough team whose counteroffensive really kicked in later in the game.

“I also thought our offense moved the ball well, despite not scoring until late in the game. But as I said before we played them, Capo is the biggest team we’ll face this year. They ran the ball well against us and just took the game over in the second half.

“The great thing about that game is that we came out if it healthy, and that’s huge for a small team like us.”

Notre Dame of Riverside presents a different problem for Laguna, although the Breakers will be seeing another potent rushing game for the second-straight week.

The Titans run a double-wing T offense which is tricky, to say the least, to contend with.

They so favor the run that quarterback Sean O’Connor has attempted just 38 passes in five games.

Laguna saw a somewhat similar offense Sept. 21 in a game with Segerstrom, but the Jaguars ran a single wing-T and used it to post a 35-24 victory.

“The key to stopping this offense is to be physical, step in there and stop the progress,” Todd said.

“That sounds so simple, but it’s not at all. It’s tough to defend. Our linebackers will need to be really disciplined for what comes at them.”

Notre Dame comes into tonight’s game with a 3-2 record, their two losses coming by a total of 14 points in high-scoring games with Jurupa Valley (54-47) and Big Bear (34-27).

The Titans are averaging 35 points per game on offense, but their defense surrenders a 29 points per game average.

Notre Dame’s key offensive threats are running back Kenjon Barner (5-11, 180, Sr.) whom Todd said has given a verbal commitment to Oregon State, and senior Joe Don Duncan, another college prospect as a 6-4, 240 tight end.

Barner is a burner. In five games, he’s rushed for 1,090 yards, is averaging six yards per carry, 218 yards per game and has scored 13 touchdowns.

“Last week, the kids had a great week of practice and came out and played well against Capo Valley,” Todd said.

“It’s been the same this week, as they’ve had another great week of practice. Hopefully, it will carry over to Friday’s game.”

Name: Jeremy Kaplan

Position: Inside linebacker

Height: 5-7

Weight: 180

Year: Junior

Highlights: Kaplan had a big game defensively and led Laguna Beach in tackles during its 33-7 nonleague loss at Capistrano Valley on Oct. 5.

Coach’s comments: “He’s had about 15 tackles and was all over the field,” Jonathan Todd said. “He hit hard and just had a great game.”

Laguna Beach (1-5)

6…Corona del Mar…26

31…La Quinta/Westminster…22

0…Santiago…26

24…Segerstrom…35

0…University…38

7…Capistrano Valley…33

Tonight: vs. Notre Dame (Riverside)

(at Guyer Field, 7 p.m.)

Oct. 19: bye

Oct. 26: Costa Mesa*

(at Guyer Field, 7 p.m.)

Nov. 2: Calvary Chapel*

(homecoming, 7 p.m.)

Nov. 9: vs. Estancia*

(at Newport Harbor High, 7 p.m.)

(*denotes league game)