Griffins earn chance at Sunset League title

The Los Alamitos High football team remained at the top of the Sunset League standings. It did so by delivering a 21-14 win against visiting Huntington Beach High on Friday, Nov. 1 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach.

The Los Alamitos High football team remained at the top of the Sunset League standings. It did so by delivering a 21-14 win against visiting Huntington Beach High on Friday, Nov. 1 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach.

The Griffins (8-1, 3-1), who are ranked at No. 10 in CIF, stayed tied with Newport Harbor for first place in the Sunset League standings. If they win their final contest, they are guaranteed at least a share of the league title.

“That’s what we play for every year,” Los Alamitos Head Coach John Barnes said earlier in the season. “It’s always our goal.”

Despite trailing 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 14-7 at the halftime break, they scored a pair of touchdowns in the third to take the lead and never look back.

Damonte King, who had 13 touches for 70 yards, legged both of those touchdowns in the third. He tied the game at 14-all with a 3-yard run. He then added another 3-yard score for the game-winning touchdown.

Huntington Beach managed to drive into the red zone and took aim at the end zone, but Los Al’s Derrick Worthy broke up a pass in the paint as time expired on the clock.

Additionally, Griffins quarterback Nick Wendell completed 16 of 35 pass attempts for 156 yards. He also put the Griffins on the board in the second quarter, when he connected with running back Kendall Brownlow for a 7-yard touchdown.

Wendell’s favorite target was receiver Cameron Austin, who had five catches for 86 yards.

Los Alamitos will finish the regular season with a Sunset League game against Fountain Valley (6-3, 2-2) on Friday, Nov. 8 at Veterans Memorial Stadiuim. That contest starts at 7 p.m.

Last year, Los Alamitos topped Fountain Valley by one possession, winning by the final score of 28-21 on the road.