Editor's note: This article appeared in the Nov. 23, 2016 issue of the News Enterprise.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the Nov. 23, 2016 issue of the News Enterprise.
Defense has been a significant factor in the success of the Los Alamitos High football team’s success this year. On Friday, the defense not only stymied Palos Verdes, they got in on the offensive production.
The Griffins forced five turnovers, including two interceptions that went for touchdowns as the Griffins rolled past the Sea Kings, 35-7, in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.
The win puts the Griffins into the CIF-SS playoff semifinals for the first time since 2004. The Griffins have bonded quickly under the new system of new head coach Ray Fenton. Fenton said the success has come from the players up through the entire school and community.
“Everybody is on board … everybody roots for each other, I’ve never seen a school that is so self-lit,” Fenton said.
The Griffins led just 7-0 after the first quarter, but began to pull away in the second. The defense kept the Sea Kings off balance all game and provided one of the biggest highlights of the game late in the second quarter. After the Sea Kings drove just past midfield, they attempted a screen pass.
The ball was tipped by a defender and fluttered into the hands of senior defensive lineman Richey Yukihiro. Yukihiro, a former fullback in freshman football, rumbled 60 yards for the touchdown. And he had help.
“I had a bunch of blockers; that felt good” Yukihiro said.
Late in the game, senior defensive back Mike Magana would add another interception return for a touchdown to complete the scoring. Palos Verdes had been to the CIF-SS finals in three of the past four years. Fenton said the Sea Kings have learned how to win big games. The Griffins are learning, once again, as well.
“Our kids are learning that, so it was nice to see us get that big win and learn a lot in the process of it,” Fenton said.
Los Alamitos will host La Mirada on Friday at 7 p.m. at Veterans Stadium. La Mirada won the Southeast Division Championship last year, dominating most of the way.
The Griffins will need another big-game performance. Yukihiro said the team will be ready and looking to be better.
“The only thing we have to change is our penalties, we can’t get that many penalties on the field,” Yukihiro said.
Senior defensive back Dylan Laurent said the team is clicking and knows they will need to stay focused and do their job. He noted that that has been their focus all season long.
“Our defense, we have guys everywhere … we have a motto, ‘do your job and the rest will follow’,” Laurent said.