High School Football: Laguna Beach picks up big road win

DUARTE — The way Laguna Beach High Coach John Shanahan sees it, his Breakers had to overcome a series of setbacks all season just to make it into the CIF Southern Section Division 13 playoffs.

So, trailing against Duarte on the Falcons’ home field with 2:17 remaining in the game wasn’t much to overcome, Shanahan said.

He was right.

Bruce Knill’s two-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds remaining lifted the Breakers to a 26-21 come-from-behind victory in the first-round contest played Friday at Duarte High School.

The Breakers (7-4), who’ve been riddled with injuries and dropped four in a row at one juncture this season, will play host to Boron in a second-round game.

Laguna Beach had been clinging to a 14-13 lead for much of the second half before upping the lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Harrison to Sean Nolan. The extra point was blocked and the Breakers led by a touchdown with 7:11 left in the game.

The Falcons came back with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Devon Hemsley to Martin Keeley with 2:25 left.

Duarte lined up to kick what would have been the game-tying extra point, but instead, Hemsley, who was the holder, took the snap and ran into the end zone to put the Breakers ahead, 21-20.

Adam Armstrong then returned the ensuing kickoff 43 yards to the Duarte 47, giving Laguna Beach great field position with 2:17 remaining.

“We spend a tremendous amount of time on our special teams and it paid off tonight”, Shanahan said.

A defensive pass interference penalty on second-and-9 gave the Breakers a first down at the 32.

Four plays later, Harrison found Nolan on a perfectly executed middle screen for the winning touchdown.

“I’ve got to stay calm and lead these guys and make sure everyone keeps their head,” said Harrison on his mindset going into the final drive. “I knew our offense can score points and get on the board quick.”

Knill was the offensive leader for the Breakers, scoring on touchdown runs of 19 and four yards.

But the play of the game was a 48-yard Hail Mary pass hauled in by Knill for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, putting the Breakers ahead 14-6.

“He’s a warrior,” Shanahan said of Knill. “He battles. He is a kid that does everything right on and off the field.”

Neither team scored in the first quarter although Laguna Beach came up empty on a good opportunity when Harrison was sacked for a seven-yard loss on a third-and-9 from the Duarte 32-yard line.

But the Breakers’ next possession ended more favorably.

The Breakers drove 69 yards on seven plays, and with help from a 15-yard personal foul penalty against the Falcons, capped the drive with Knill’s nine-yard scoring run.

The Falcons responded on the ensuing drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hemsley to Rodney Collier. Duarte missed the extra point.

Laguna Beach caught a break later in the quarter when a 75-yard punt return by Collier was called back for a holding penalty.

The Falcons wound up punting on that possession, and with 1:04 left in the half, the Breakers took over on their own 43, setting the stage for the Hail Mary pass eight plays later.

“I thought we managed the clock well to get to the Hail Mary,” Shanahan said.

Before Friday, Laguna Beach and the Falcons last reached the postseason in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and neither team was ranked among the top 10 in the division.

CIF Southern Section Division 13 playoffs

First Round

Laguna Beach 26, Duarte 21

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Laguna Beach 0 14 0 12 - 26

Duarte 0 6 7 8 - 21

SECOND QUARTER

LB – Knill 19 run, (Knill kick), 10:17.

Du – Collier 25 pass from Hemsley, (kick failed), 3:54.

LB – Knill 48 pass from Harrison, (Knill kick), 0:00.

THIRD QUARTER

Du – Harrison 28 pass from Hemsley, (Jimenez kick), 5:18.

FOURTH QUARTER

LB – Nolan 15 pass from Harrison, (kick blocked), 7:11.

Du – Keeley 29 pass from Hemsley, (Hemsley run), 2:25.

LB – Knill 2 run, (run failed), 00:28.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

LB – Harrison 12-59.

Du – Rios 19-85.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

LB – Harrison 14-26-0-160, 2 TDs.

Du – Hemsley 14-27-0-198, 3 TDs.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

LB – Knill 4-70, TD.

Du – Keeley 3-70, TD.