Laguna Beach football overcomes injuries to beat Troy in league opener

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FULLERTON — The Laguna Beach and Troy football teams muscled their way into the new-look Delta League by posting impressive power ratings on HSratings.com the past two seasons.

On Thursday, the teams showed their readiness for the higher competition but Laguna Beach’s resolve decided the outcome.

Freshman quarterback Braden Hansen rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another score as Laguna Beach overcame two key injuries to defeat Troy 28-14 in the teams’ Delta League opener at Fullerton High.

Laguna Beach (4-2, 1-0), ranked No. 21 in Orange County, lost starting quarterback Jack Hurst (dislocated knee cap) and running back Charlie Christian (ankle) to injuries in the first half.

Hansen took over for Hurst. He completed 17 of 21 passes for 170 yards in by far his most extensive playing time.

Laguna Beach’s defense, led by linemen Xavier Brooks, stiffened in the final 1 1/2 quarters to help seal an emotional victory for the Breakers.

“I’m very proud of our community,” Laguna Beach coach John Shanahan said. “There’s a lot of broken hearts and a lot of tears in that locker room. To come out (after) halftime and to continue to fight, it just says a tremendous amount about our kids.”

“You can be 100 percent proud and 100 percent broken hearted at the same time,” the coach. “I hope to God that (Hurst) gets one more chance to play with his buddies.”

Hansen capped a 92-yard scoring drive by a throwing a 12-yard touchdown to Will Kimball early in the fourth quarter to snap a 14-14 tie.

After Brooks’ second sack forced a punt on the ensuing possession by Troy (3-3, 0-1), Laguna Beach drove for a 1-yard touchdown run by Bob Gardner, who replaced Christian at running back.

The Breakers led 28-14 with 7:01 left in the fourth.

Their defense closed with a stand on fourth-and-goal from its 12 and an interception by Colter Steris.

Last week, Laguna Beach lost Army committed edge Garrett Byerly to a season-ending knee injury, Shanahan said.

“We responded to (adversity) great,” Brooks said. “When Jack went down, personally. I was heartbroken by that. I just took that as a reason to go and kick their butt. For Jack, for Charlie, and for our teammates.”

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“This is only going to make us stronger,” the senior added. “Bring us together. Bring us as a family.”

Hurst was injured on the third play from scrimmage. The senior fell to the turf after Troy’s Noah Torosian nabbed an interception at the Laguna Beach 30.

Brooks kept Troy from capitalizing by blocking a 20-yard field goal attempt.

Christian, Laguna Beach’s leading rusher, was injured early in the second quarter on a run.

Hansen sparked the same drive with his running ability and scored on a 2-yard run for a 6-0 lead.

After Laguna Beach’s defense held to give the Breakers good field possession, Hansen capped a 42-yard drive with an 8-yard TD run with 1:42 left in the half.

Laguna Beach led 14-0.

Hansen set up his score with a 31-yard completion on third down to Brady Stringham.

https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy/status/2105852665146278199/video/1

The Air Force committed wide receiver had eight catches for 101 yards.

Troy’s two-minute offense responded. On the final play of the first half, Mason Mays lofted a 37-yard TD pass Andrew Green, who out-jumped two defenders.

Torosian kicked the extra-point as Troy trimmed Laguna Beach’s lead to 14-7.

Troy tied the score 14-14 in the middle of the third quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run by Riley Billington.

The junior running back finished with 89 yards on 11 carries.

“We’re just not a disciplined team right now,” Troy coach Michael Echaves said. “It’s not Troy football and it’s frustrating. We got to be better. We got to be crisper. We got to raise our level of play.”

Laguna Beach climbed two leagues in the Orange County Football Conference to reach the Delta League.

The Breakers’ preparation this fall has included playing three teams with a higher power rating. They lost all three games against Yorba Linda, Orange and Westlake.

Earlier this week, Yorba Linda forfeited four victories, including a win against Laguna Beach, for CIF-SS violations.

Troy rose three leagues in the county conference to the Delta League.

Laguna Beach and Troy played for the first time since 1967.

Next week on Thursday, Oct. 8, Laguna Beach plays at El Modena (5-0, 0-0) in the Delta League. On Friday, Oct. 9, Troy plays host to Western (0-6, 0-1) at Fullerton High.

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