Somehow Los Alamitos is your Southern Section Division II football champion. A team of successful friends made up of best friends, they combine chemistry, determination and resilience to overcome all odds.
On Saturday night, in front of a packed crowd at San Clemente High, the Griffins recorded seven sacks and took advantage of one of the strangest touchdowns scored by a lineman to beat the Tritons 33-20. That same Los Alamitos team lost to San Clemente 28-9 in the championship game on Oct. 24.
“I'm not smart enough to articulate how I feel and how proud I am of these guys,” said Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton, who hugged one player after another.
Los Alamitos (12-2) received a sensational performance from quarterback Colin Creason, who completed his final 13 passes and combined with the Griffins' strong running back tandem of Camden Tillis and Lenny Ibarra to provide enough offensive firepower to end San Clemente's five-game winning streak and bring the Griffins their first championship since 2002.
The game changed on consecutive plays late in the third quarter after San Clemente took a 20-17 lead on Ethan Miller's 35-yard field goal. Creason threw a shovel pass to tight end Beckham Hofland inside the five-yard line, but he fumbled the ball. It came off the leg of a San Clemente defender and was picked up by offensive guard Luke Wehner, a rugby player who knew exactly what to do to score his first high school touchdown: run toward the goal line. He went seven yards for a 24-20 lead.
“I was so scared,” Hofland said.
Wehner said, “I didn’t expect this at all.”
Los Alamitos then forced a fumble on San Clemente's next offensive play, which was recovered by Hunter Eligon. Tillis ran for a 22-yard touchdown for a 30-20 lead. The momentum and the game moved to Los Alamitos.
People continued to come forward to give the Gryphons big chances. Jackson Renger had two of his team's seven sacks. Hofland caught a 24-yard touchdown and made two field goals. Tillis rushed for 141 yards. The versatile Ibarra carried the ball 65 yards and rushed for 99 yards. And Los Alamitos' offensive line continued to create opportunities for Creason and the running backs.
The first half ended tied 17-17 when Hofland caught a touchdown pass for Los Alamitos with 39 seconds left. San Clemente opened up a 17-3 lead behind Jackson Rex, who had a 25-yard catch, forced a fumble and an interception. Colin Granite scored two short-yardage touchdowns.
Los Alamitos' erratic, fast-paced offense began to cause problems for San Clemente's defense. By halftime, Tillis had 100 passing yards and Creason had 156 yards.
Los Alamitos won the Division 2 South championship with a 33-20 win over San Clemente.
(Eric Sondheimer/Los Angeles Times)
Los Alamitos started the season 8–0, then lost to San Clemente and Mission Viejo in consecutive Alpha League games. The Griffins regrouped and never stopped believing in themselves. They are expected to face section champion San Diego Cathedral Catholic next weekend in a state playoff game.
