The Los Alamitos High football team had a solid defensive effort but could not muster enough offense as the Griffins were eliminated from the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs with a 10-7 loss to La Habra on Friday at La Habra High.
The Los Alamitos High football team had a solid defensive effort but could not muster enough offense as the Griffins were eliminated from the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs with a 10-7 loss to La Habra on Friday at La Habra High.
The Griffins compiled just 141 total yards of offense and suffered some key turnovers to end scoring chances. While the Griffin defense exchanged big stops and turnovers with the La Habra defense, the Highlanders were finally able to take advantage of a big play late in the game.
On third and five from their own 16 yard line, the Highlanders had a short pass to running back Christian Casas that turned into a 54 yard play down to the Griffin 30 yard line. The Highlanders then moved the ball to the eight yard line before kicking a go-ahead field goal with 3:18 left in the game.
The Griffins started the ensuing possession at their own 20 yard line, but a trick play attempt resulted in an intentional grounding penalty that put the Griffins back at their own seven yard line on second and 24. The Griffins were eventually forced to punt and La Habra was able to run out the clock.
The game had started with a missed opportunity for the Griffins as they forced a fumble on the opening kickoff. Matt Locher recovered the fumble to set the Griffins up at the La Habra 29 yard line. But the Griffins could not capitalize, as they attempted a fourth and 15 from the 22 yard line. The La Habra defense hit quarterback Cody Marshall as he set up to pass, forcing a fumble.
La Habra was able to convert the turnover into a 7-0 lead as they drove 72 yards in eight plays to get a five-yard touchdown run by Greg Gaines. La Habra was able to compile 302 total yards of offense, but the Griffin defense came up with key stops to keep the game in check.
The Griffins were able to tie the game late in the first quarter after forcing a punt that was downed at the Los Alamitos 48 yard line. Aided by a pass interference penalty, the Griffins were able to move the ball to the Highlander 21 yard line.
From there, Kendall Brownlow was able to break free for a 21-yard touchdown run that tied the game with 1:16 left in the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, the highlanders moved the ball to the Los Alamitos 10 yard line, but the Griffin defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Connor Burley to end the threat.
La Habra would get another chance a few minutes later after forcing a fumble of their own. They moved the ball to the Griffin 31 yard line, but on fourth and 8, Griffin linebacker Kevin Small got a quarterback sack to end the threat.
Late in the third quarter, the Highlanders moved to the Los Alamitos 20 yard line, but defensive back Dashawn Gordon intercepted a pass at the one yard line to end the drive. Early in the fourth, Locher came up with a fourth down sack to give the Griffins the ball at the Highlander 41 yard line, but Los Alamitos could not convert it into points.
