The Los Alamitos High football team topped the defending Sunset League and CIF Southwest champ on Thursday, Oct. 24. It did the deed with an impressive defensive performance, which ended in a 16-10 victory at Huntington Beach High.
The Los Alamitos High football team topped the defending Sunset League and CIF Southwest champ on Thursday, Oct. 24. It did the deed with an impressive defensive performance, which ended in a 16-10 victory at Huntington Beach High.
The Griffins (7-1, 2-1) remained in the chase for the league title with their latest victory. They went ahead for good in the fourth quarter. Team captain Mike Hayden, who played well going both ways, scored his second 1-yard running touchdown of the contest to take the lead. Jerry Raye set that score up by returning a punt 90 yards.
The Chargers (5-3, 2-1), who owned the No. 9 ranking, got back the ball back, twice, but fumbled and then failed to penetrate the end zone to suffer their first defeat in league play.
In all, the Griffins defense forced four turnovers. Hayden, who played linebacker, finished with a pair of sacks. Tristan Frembling recovered a fumble, Derrick Worthy snagged an interception and Denzal Brantley picked a pass and forced a fumble. Brantley also blocked a punt with the special teams unit.
The Chargers took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Griffins jumped in front, 7-3, when Hayden scored a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
In the third, the Griffins expanded their lead. Kicker Brett Mathis booted a 22-yard field goal to give them a 10-3 advantage. However, the Chargers knotted the score at 10-10 when Tyler Warren pounded in a 2-yard touchdown.
In the fourth, the Griffins forced the Chargers to punt on four occasions.
The Griffins struggled to move the ball on offense, especially with their running attack. Quarterback Nick Wendell, who completed 12 of 26 passes, threw for 102 yards. Receiver Dashawn Gordon topped the squad with three catches for 58 yards.
Los Alamitos will continue its Sunset League campaign against Huntington Beach High on Friday, Nov. 1 at Veterans Stadium. That contest will start at 7 p.m.
