After getting a stirring victory, it was time this week for the Laguna Beach football team to give back.
The Breakers find themselves idle from gridiron wars this weekend, in limbo between a 34-12 Orange Coast League victory over host Calvary Chapel and a week away from playing their final regular season home game Nov. 7 against Estancia.
Their reward following that Oct. 23 win over Calvary Chapel that put the Breakers at 2-0 in league? A day at the beach.
But it wasn’t all fun and games.
Coach Jonathan Todd said that idle time this week has allowed his team the opportunity to work on some things — things like seven-on-seven situations and the passing game, in addition to doing some community service. On Thursday, the Breakers were to do beach clean-up at Main Street beach following a workout on the sand.
“I know it’s football season and that’s great and all, but this week, it’s about giving back,” Todd said. “It’s important to keep things in perspective.”
The Breakers also have gained some perspective as to where they stand at the halfway point of the Orange Coast League race: wins over Godinez and Calvary Chapel to begin the league campaign has left Laguna tied with Costa Mesa, who also is 2-0, in the top spot.
Last week, Laguna exploded in the fourth quarter to turn a precarious two-point lead on Calvary Chapel into a 34-12 victory at Orange Coast College.
The Breakers clung to a 7-6 halftime lead and led only 14-12 heading into the final 12 minutes. It was in that fourth quarter where they got three touchdown runs from Zach Smith, including 66-yard burst to the end zone.
Smith actually had four touchdown runs in the game. He began the game’s scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter. The sophomore tandem of receiver Chris Paul and quarterback Austin Paxson teamed up on a 38-yard TD pass play in the third quarter to increase the Laguna lead to 14-6.
Smith went on to finish with 141 yards rushing and Paxson threw for 109. Paul had four receptions total 81 yards.
Smith now has 15 rushing touchdowns on the season, which puts him at seventh on the school’s single-season list. He also comes in at No. 4 on the school’s career rushing list. The senior currently has rushed for 1,616 yards.
“That was a good test for us,” Todd said. “We went into the half only up a point and they scored again to cut our lead to two in the third quarter.
