Los Alamitos Stays Unbeaten With 21-7 Victory Over Loara

It has been a long time since Los Alamitos High School started so successfully. And Thursday night, the players were willing to share the source of their joy after defeating Loara, 21-7, in the Empire League opener in Hanford Rants Stadium.

“Four and 0,” shouted Chris Theodore, Griffin defensive tackle.

Loara (3-1) did some un-Saxon-like things. The Saxons committed six turnovers and thereby nearly invited the Griffins to succeed.

Each of Los Alamitos’ three touchdowns followed a Saxon mistake, including two fumbles and an interception.

Griffin defenders led by Theodore, linebacker Marc Trachtman, guard Jim Howard and tackle Rob Gordon pressured Loara quarterback Wade Clester throughout the game. He was sacked five times, and threw two interceptions, both caught by J.T. Snow.

Snow, the league’s leading quarterback, provided the bulk of the Los Alamitos offense, with 9 of 16 passing for 97 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Griffins took a 7-0 advantage after linebacker Jerry LeDoux recovered a Clester fumble at midfield. Los Alamitos receiver Robby Katzaroff, who finished the game with three catches for 35 yards, scored seven plays later with the night’s most spectacular reception.

Snow tossed an 11-yard pass that faded into Katzaroff’s outstretched forearm. He managed to twist and cradle the ball in the crook of his elbow while falling into the end zone.