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Kickoff 2010: Orange Coast League preview
Find the overall league and individual team previews for all six Orange Coast League teams.
COACHES’ POLL:
1. Laguna Beach, 5-6 record in 2009, (29 poll points)
2. Estancia, 6-5, (22)
3. Costa Mesa, 6-5, (19)
4T. Godinez, 2-8, (14)
4T. Calvary Chapel, 5-5, (14)
6. Saddleback, 2-8, (6)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Laguna Beach. The Breakers carry the league’s best quarterback-receiver combination in Austin Paxson and Chris Paul. The duo hooked up 61 times for more than 900 yards and helped Laguna Beach to an undefeated league title last season. For their efforts, Paul earned the league’s MVP award while Paxson was selected league offensive MVP. Unless opposing defensive coordinators devised a way to slow them down, the Breakers are the favorites to repeat.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
Saddleback. The Roadrunners enter their first season in the Orange Coast League and could need time to adjust. Gone are the team’s starting quarterback and leading rusher and receiver. It creates an opportunity for others to step and fill the void. The Roadrunners success will depend on it.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Chris Paul, Laguna Beach. Anytime the league MVP is back for another season, he better be on team’s radars. Paul sliced through defenses last season to the tune of 61 catches, 909 yards and 19 touchdowns. All those numbers could increase this season.
Austin Paxson, Laguna Beach. Paxson is among the top quarterbacks in the county and passed for nearly 2,000 yards last year as a junior. Expect him to surpass that total this year.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS:
Laguna Beach: Norton Penney, RB, Jr.; Michael Hyden, RB, Sr.;
Calvary Chapel: Brandon Perez, RB, Sr., J.T. McLuckey, QB, Jr.
Costa Mesa: Tyler Sheffner, RB, Jr.; Nathan Alvis, QB, Jr.
Estancia: Omar Gutierrez, LB, Sr.; Alipa Peters, DT, Jr.
Godinez: Victor Silva, QB, Sr.; Terry Williams, DL, Sr.
Saddleback: Luis Soto, RB, Sr.; Ricardo Rosas, DE, Sr.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Laguna Beach at Estancia, Oct. 15. The teams open league against each other in what could be Laguna Beach’s biggest obstacle to another perfect league season.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE:
Laguna Beach. The Breakers play four of five games on the road after the opening week, including nonleague games at Bishop Montgomery of Torrance and Oak Hills of Hesperia and the league opener at Estancia.
