Berth in the balance?

Mike Sciacca

When the Laguna Beach High football team wraps up its regular season

tonight against Corona del Mar, there will be plenty riding on the

outcome of the Pacific Coast League showdown.

What hangs in the balance for the Breakers and Sea Kings is a bid

to the CIF playoffs, which begin next week.

A win in tonight’s 7 p.m. game at Guyer Field would move Laguna

into a three-way tie for third-place in the standings, and set up a

possible playoff berth.

Laguna (5-4 overall, 1-3 in league) sits one game behind Corona

del Mar and Calvary Chapel, which currently share third-place at 2-2,

in the standings.

Calvary Chapel visits league champion Tesoro tonight.

“We feel that if we win, we will make the playoffs,” Laguna Coach

Jimmy Nolan said. “Of the three teams that would be tied for third,

of the three, we’d have the best overall record. There may be a coin

flip involved.

“I don’t really are at this point. We’ll worry if and when we

cross that bridge.”

A bruised and banged up Laguna squad heads into the regular season

finale coming off a 27-6 loss to Calvary Chapel.

The only scoring the Breakers (5-4, 1-3) could muster was a

14-yard second quarter touchdown pass from Talan Torriero to Tommy

Cogburn.

A highlight to the game, though, was the return of Brad Wolf from

a broken leg.

Well, near, full return.

“Brad made an unbelievable courageous comeback in the second half,

but will not be able to go again this week,” Nolan said. “The guy’s

playing on a broken leg. With his broken leg, Brad was the defensive

MVP of the game.”

Corona del Mar (5-4, 2-2) evened its league record last week with

a 42-14 pasting of University.

The Brothers Welch, quarterback Thomas and receiver Kevin, teamed

up on a 17-yard touchdown pass play.

Thomas Welch finished with three touchdown passes and ran for

another score, with 71 of his 175 passing yards going to his brother.

“I believe that CdM has the best athletes in this league,” Nolan

said. “I am more impressed with them on film, than I was with Tesoro

and Northwood.

“So, how are we approaching this game? Well, actually, we approach

every game with hard work, energy, passion and earned confidence.

This game is a rival. Many say anything can happed in a rivalry. It’s

about time things start going our way. The boys deserve it and if

every kid on this team can leave everything on that field, things may

go our way.”