SAN PEDRO — The stellar, high-powered San Pedro offense couldn’t get on track and was shut out in the second half of Friday’s nonleague game against San Pedro.
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Laguna Beach scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, handing San Pedro a 21-7 loss at home, Friday.
“That’s huge for us because that’s one of the best offenses we’ve played all year long…but it was super gritty, and it’s one of those things that we’ve been really grinding to get better with a new defensive scheme going into this season, and I think it finally clicked this week,” Laguna Beach coach John Shanahan said.
Laguna Beach (2-3) only had one win entering Friday, but the record doesn’t tell the full story. The Breakers’ opponents had a 16-4 combined record coming into the week.
San Pedro (4-1) came off an unexpected bye week after its previous matchup against Palisades was canceled. The layoff showed as the offense came out sluggish.
Pirates senior quarterback Seth Solorio opened the game with a fumbled snap and four snaps later, he threw his first interception of the season off an underthrown ball that was intercepted by Laguna Beach junior defensive back Colter Steris.
“I saw my receiver, of course he went deep and just didn’t panic at all, just played my coverage, it was great, felt great after that,” Steris said.
The Breakers were able to capitalize off the turnover in just three plays. Senior quarterback Jack Hurst threw a quick pass to freshman receiver Ryder Bright who dodged a tackle and escaped an ankle swipe attempt down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.
After a fast start, both offenses went three-and-out before Solorio connected with senior receiver Jaxon Brown on a quick slant for a 54-yard touchdown that was allowed by great blocks to tie the game at seven in the first quarter.
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Following four consecutive offensive possessions that resulted in a punt, Laguna Beach drove to San Pedro’s 26 before middle linebacker Ethan Zamudio forced a fumble. San Pedro’s offense was then stopped on a fourth-and-two.
The first half ended with Brown intercepting a Hurst pass, sending the teams into halftime tied at 7-7.
Hurst didn’t start the second half after a hand injury but later came back in.
“We thought he was done, he had this big grapefruit-sized bubble on his hand…but he’s an unbelievably tough kid,” Shanahan said.
The game remained tied at 7-7 heading into the fourth quarter. Laguna Beach broke the tie with Hurst connecting with senior receiver Brady Stringham on a five-yard curl route touchdown catch to take the lead 14-7 with eight minutes remaining.
“We just had to wait our turn, you know we had to wait all night to get two,” Hurst said. “They were double covering him [Stringham] so it was hard to get him the ball when we wanted to, but once we got down in that red zone, we saw the opportunities and he [Stringham] makes me look good.”
Solorio threw his second interception of the night and Laguna Beach capitalized on it with another touchdown pass from Hurst to Stringham to make it 21-7.
The Pirates, who averaged 43 points per game entering the game, went nine-consecutive offensive possessions without scoring.
San Pedro will open Marine League play, Friday with a Battle of the Harbor meeting with Banning. Laguna Beach will host Troy Thursday in a Delta League opener.
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