OC Sports Zone Kickoff 2019: Laguna Beach tries to fill some gaps for another long playoff run

Senior quarterback Andrew Johnson leads Laguna Beach into the season. (File photo Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Laguna Beach High’s football team has been to the semifinal round of the CIF playoffs two of the last three years under Coach John Shanahan, entering his fourth year.

The Breakers are out to have another successful season this year although Shanahan said there are some question marks going into the season.

“A lot of it is up in the air because we have so many new starters,” Shanahan said. “We lost one of the best players in the county last year in Sean Nolan so we’re going to have to replace a lot on offense and special teams. He was our punter, our punt returner and he caught 18 touchdowns last year and was a great all-around football player.

“We don’t have the singular guy who is going to replace him but I think we have the right number of guys that can get close to those numbers if everyone plays up to their potential.”

The Breakers have their talented quarterback Andrew Johnson returning.

“He’s a great kid and I think he’s a special quarterback,” Shanahan said. “The ball comes out of his hands as well as anybody. He’s smart, he’s tough and he’s a great leader by example. I expect him to have a great year. I think that takes a lot of pressure off some other spots.”

Laguna Beach was 10-3 overall last year and shared the Pac-4 title with Western and Ocean View with a 2-1 record. The Breakers advanced to the CIF Division 12 semifinals losing to Artesia 48-6.

Laguna Beach opens the season Thursday, Aug. 22 against Green Street Academy of Baltimore on the road. The team left Tuesday for the trip to Baltimore.

Tentative offensive starters

QB: Andrew Johnson, senior; RB: Jackson Golden, junior; Tyler Fields, sophomore; R: Connor Fink, senior; R: Raul Villalobos, senior; R: Noah Diver, senior; R: Jack Crawford, senior; R: Jack Pigott, senior; C: Sammer Tarazi, senior; G: Clay Gershenson, senior. (Five other players are in the running for the other positions).

Tentative defensive starters

DB: Casey Sorensen, senior; DB: Jackson Golden, senior; DL: Clay Gershenson, senior; DL: Brady Soloff, senior; LB: Seniors Sam Tyrell and Connor Fink lead the linebacking group.

A closer look at the Breaker standouts

—Johnson (6-2, 170) leads the way at quarterback and Shanahan is expecting another big year from him.

-Connor Fink will play outside linebacker and wide receiver and is another key player. “He is very special and real smart and still a young kid,” Shanahan said. “He’s really grown up a lot over the last six months and looks real explosive. I think he can be unbelievably good.”

—-Noah Diver will play wide receiver and cornerback. “Noah Diver is an unbelievably explosive slot and I think he’s going to do a lot of great things this year,” Shanahan said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com