Breakers put it all out on football field

Mike Sciacca

The 2004 Laguna Beach High football never truly got to realize its

true potential over the course of its 10-game season.

No, adversity and a plethora of injuries were the main obstacles

the Breakers faced during those 10 weeks but, according to first-year

head coach Jimmy Nolan, the season went well beyond the wins and

losses.

“My first year at Laguna Beach High School was awesome,� Nolan

said. “I really love these guys and was so honored to be their coach.

They are really great people and gave both me and each other every

ounce of energy, courage and fight that they had.

“We know the outcome of the season would have been different had

the majority of our starters not gotten injured. But 10 years from

now it wouldn’t make a difference, anyway. What these guys will

remember are the lessons they learned regarding dealing with

adversity and how they defied many odds in winning five games by

sticking together, working hard and giving everything they had both

in practice and in games.

The Breakers went 4-1 in nonleague play and fashioned a four-game

win streak heading into Pacific Coast League play.

But injuries to key personnel prevented Laguna from really

challenging the upper echelon of the league, and the Breakers went

1-4 in the Pacific Coast League.

Their lone league win, though, was thrilling for the program: they

came back from a two-touchdown deficit on the road and defeated the

University Trojans in overtime, 21-20.

That victory was one of several inspiring moments Nolan saw from

his squad.

“I think what inspired me most was seeing the improvement these

guys made from the first day I met them last spring,� he said. “We

needed to commit everything we had both on and off the field if we

were to win a game this year. By the time the season started, not

only had we earned the right to be confident, we knew we were

contenders.

“Seeing the boys full of pride and knowing they truly believed in

themselves really made me feel good. When I first met them, I could

sense they didn’t think football was a big priority. It became their

life. Brad Wolf is a walking/talking inspirational story that I will

tell for years to come.�

Wolf has battled illness and a broken leg simultaneously, but

continued all season to be a team leader and inspiration.

“Brad Wolf never gave up,� Nolan said. “Most humans would, in

Brad’s situation. He has an illness which makes playing football

twice as tough. He broke his leg in the first game. The guy never

missed a practice and kept the intensity up all year long.

“Then he came back the last two games before the leg was healed.

Brad was our defensive MVP versus Calvary Chapel and was our game MVP

against CdM, with a broken leg. Truly unbelievable. He could barley

walk all week, yet managed to battle in both games. Wow, I was really

lucky to coach that guy.�

Wolf was just one of several players to don a Laguna uniform for

the final time at Guyer Field on the night of Nov. 12. Wolf led

Laguna in rushing in the regular season finale against Corona del

Mar.

“By season’s end, every senior was a starter,� Nolan said. “That

was pretty special. Everyone on this team went through hell on a

daily basis with all the running and tough hitting we do in practice.

The boys became mentally tough. They learned how to play football.

Laguna Beach High School is now respected and teams know we’ll come

out to hit.�

Stating that “we’re on a mission� and that the Breakers will make

the playoffs next year -- and hoping that “no one gets hurt� -- Nolan

says he’ll be back to coach the Breakers next year.

But, he has one request: he asks that any water polo, basketball,

track, baseball player or school athlete, come speak to him about

playing football.

“All other sports are great and I definitely recommend playing

them, but we really need more bodies on this team,� he said. “And

there is no other experience in sports like high school football.

Anyone who tells you differently never played football

“We have a small enrollment here at Laguna Beach and all of our

top athletes need to play every sport they can. The school’s too

small to focus on only one sport. Talk to the three seniors that came

out to play football the last week of the season. They will tell you

how great it was, as they told me. Help make Laguna Beach High School

a bigger and better football program and a school with tons of pride.

Wasted talent and regrets are things that are hard to live with.

Please come see me.�