The Streak : Los Alamitos Mum About 47-Game Roll Going Into Tonight’s Division I Semifinal Against Mater Dei

It is taboo to talk about the streak in the football locker room at Los Alamitos High. Such conversation is likely to land a player in Coach John Barnes’ doghouse.

Off the North Orange County campus, however, anything goes. That might explain why the streak is a frequent topic for local reporters and is even plastered on several billboards that line the street in front of the school.

“We never talk about it as coaches or with the players,” Barnes said. “We’re proud of it, but it is not what we’re about. It’s not our only identity.”

What Barnes is trying not to refer to is the 47-game unbeaten streak that Los Alamitos has put together over the last four seasons. It began innocently enough with a playoff-saving victory over Anaheim Katella on Oct. 31, 1991, and has not stopped since.

Last week’s 7-0 victory over Long Beach Poly in the Division I quarterfinals increased the streak to 47, breaking the section record of 46 shared by Temple City and Canyon Country Canyon. The state record is 53 by St. Helena from 1960-65.

The last school to defeat Los Alamitos was Anaheim Esperanza, which also represents the only blemish on Los Alamitos’ streak. The schools tied, 14-14, for the Division II title in 1992.

Despite competing in the state’s toughest section, the Griffins have not had many close calls during the streak. They have outscored opponents, 1,594-413, and have 18 shutouts. They have scored 40 or more points 18 times.

The streak includes 13 playoff victories and three sectional titles. Despite being elevated to Division I this season, Los Alamitos has a 12-0 record and is ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times behind La Puente Bishop Amat.

Barnes knows the not-discussed streak is in jeopardy. Los Alamitos faces Orange County rival Santa Ana Mater Dei, also 12-0, in the semifinals tonight at 7:30 at Anaheim Stadium.

“It’s not like we walk into the locker room and say we’ve got to win tonight so we can up the streak to 48,” said Barnes, 134-46-7 in 16 seasons. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and I’m very proud of our kids, but we go out each week to win that game and nothing else.

“If it ends tonight, it’s been a great run,” he said. “It was never a goal, and I never would have expected it. It’s something I’ll probably enjoy more when I look back on it years from now.”

Barnes, 45, has built the Griffins into a power with one of the Southland’s most prolific passing attacks. Quarterback Tim Carey flourished in 1991 and ‘92, throwing for 5,916 yards and 56 touchdowns, before accepting a scholarship to Stanford. His replacement, Mike Good, passed for 2,943 yards last year. He is now at Northern Arizona.

Junior Kevin Feterik inherited quarterback duties this season. Although he sat out three games because of a broken bone in his throwing hand, Feterik has passed for 2,583 yards and 27 touchdowns with only four interceptions.

Los Alamitos’ explosive offense has helped keep the streak alive. Trailing league rival Huntington Beach Edison, 12-7, with 38 seconds to play earlier this season, the Griffins stormed back. They returned a kickoff to the Edison 48-yard line, and two plays later Feterik connected with Tony Hartley on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 15-12 victory.

“Those kids just go into every game knowing they are going to win, not thinking they can win,” said Edison Coach Dave White. “We got as close as anybody, and even though we played a better game we still couldn’t beat them.”

Receiver Brad Melsby, a three-year starter at Los Alamitos with receiving yardage of more than 2,800 yards, has not lost in his 41 varsity games. He said the key has been not taking any opponent lightly.

“We make sure that we get up for every game,” Melsby said.

Said Barnes: “The thing that bothers me the most about the streak is that when it finally comes to an end people are going to say we really weren’t that good anyway. I know better, but I’m still not going to want to hear that. We’ve been good at times and lucky at others.”