The Los Alamitos High football team came so, so close to winning a share of the Sunset League title. It just needed to top Fountain Valley at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach to wrap up the regular season. Instead, it suffered a 10-7 defeat, turning the Sunset League standings into a knotted mess.
The loss slipped the Griffins (8-2, 3-2) into a three-way tie for second place, which includes the Barons (7-3, 3-2). They still earned a spot in the CIF Southern Section bracket and will play on the road against Foothill in the first round. That contest will start at 7 p.m.
Los Alamitos quarterback Nick Wendell completed 15 of 32 passing attempts for 132 yards. Additionally, running back Kendall Brownlow had 17 touches for 71 yards. Neither of them scored a touchdown, though.
Fullback Mike Hayden owned that honor and notched the team’s only score in the fourth quarter. He did the deed by pounding in a 1-yard run with 10:26 remain in the contest – plenty of time to mount a comeback.
However, the Barons had other plans. They actually drew blood in the first quarter and never surrendered their lead. Running back Isaiah Davis, who tallied 115 yards, scored with a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Neither side scored during the second quarter, but the Barons took a 10-0 advantage in the third when kicker Jonah Mack smacked a 22-yard field goal.
The Griffins stopped the Barons, who drove into the red zone, with a key turnover late in the contest. Jerry Raye intercepted a pass at the 5-yard line. Wendell then drove the Griffins down field, making it to the 41-yard line before the Barons defense brought up a fourth-and-long. Wendell went deep, taking aim at Dashawn Gordon, who managed to beat his coverage and drop behind the secondary.
However, the pass sailed out of reach and Gordon couldn’t come up with the catch. The Griffins then turned the ball over on downs, which allowed the Barons to run out the clock.
Edison, which Los Alamitos handed its only loss of league play, won sole possession of the Sunset League crown, topping Newport Harbor last week.