PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran holds on for win over Laguna Beach in ‘home’ opener

Crean Lutheran wide receiver Ty Benefield celebrates his third touchdown catch of the first quarter. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Crean Lutheran quarterback Gavin Rogers threw a career-high five touchdowns passes but the Saints had to hold off a stubborn Laguna Beach team before defeating the Breakers 35-27 in non-league Friday night at Crean Lutheran High.     

The Saints improved their record to 4-0 and didn’t disappoint a capacity homecoming crowd in their first varsity home football game since grandstands were installed. Laguna Beach fell to 2-3.

Rogers tossed three touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game to Ty Benefield on passes of 15, 47 and six yards as the Saints exploded to a 21-0 lead. It appeared Crean Lutheran was headed for a big night and a comfortable victory.

However, the Breakers battled back.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Laguna Beach’s defense stiffened in the second quarter, forcing three turnovers (two fumbles and an interception).

The Breakers moved the ball, but could only capitalize with a pair of Jackson Rodriguez field goals, trimming the Crean Lutheran lead to 21-6 at the half. Benefield and Ben Byszewski had interceptions for the Saints in the first half as Crean Lutheran defense forced three turnovers in the opening half.   

Rogers capped the Saints opening possession of the second half by tossing a 23-yard TD pass to Benefield, who made an outstanding catch to give Crean Lutheran a commanding 28-6 lead.

But Laguna Beach rallied and junior running back scored two rushing touchdowns in a span of 4:06 to cut the lead to 28-20 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.  Rogers quickly countered with a 21-yard TD pass to Ben Buettell to give the Saints a 35-20 lead after three quarters.

“Our team is starting to come together,” said Rogers. “We beat a tough team and as far as the five touchdowns go, I was trying to do my job.”   

But backup Breakers quarterback Ethan Das completed a 15-yard TD strike to Jackson Rodriguez to trim the lead to 35-27 with four minutes to play.

Laguna Beach got the ball back at their 10-yard with just over two minutes to play, but Nick Rogers was tackled short of a first down on a fourth-down play and the Saints ran out the clock to secure the win.  

“We knew they were a second-half team, and we knew they would come back and punch us in the mouth, but 4-0 is not bad and I’ll take it,” Crean Lutheran Coach Rick Curtis.

Rogers also completed 17 passes for 218 yards and Benefield caught nine passes for 151 yards, four TDs and had two interceptions for Crean Lutheran. The Saints defense led by Andrew Duberow, Benefield and Ben Byszewski, forced five Breakers turnovers.

Nick Rogers rushed for 127 yards and a TD and Das completed 27 passes for 200 yards and a TD for Laguna Beach. The Breakers defense, led by Micah Chavez, forced three turnovers.

“We’re limited right now with little experience, but I’m so proud of our kids,” said Breakers Coach John Shanahan. “I believe we are going to be a much better football team by the end of the season.”

NOTES:

…. Laguna Beach lost its starting quarterback, Sam Garwal, to an injury during their opening game of the season. Ethan Das, a former platform diver on the Laguna Beach swim team, replaced Garwal and has been under center for the Breakers ever since.

….Friday was the Saints first varsity football game as hosts with newly installed bleachers. Crean Lutheran had played two home games during the 2021 spring Covid season but bleachers had not been installed.

….Crean Lutheran student Tayler Peterson, a junior, sang the National Anthem.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone