Title Dreams of Los Alamitos Get Sacked by Esperanza, 21-17

For six weeks, Los Alamitos was the No. 1 high school football team in the country. Today, the Griffins are not even the top team in the Sunset League.

Esperanza ended Los Alamitos’ dream of a mythical national championship with a 21-17 upset before a sellout crowd of 6,000 at Valencia High.

Jamal Footman’s 29-yard touchdown run with 5:02 to play gave the Aztecs (5-2, 2-0) their first victory against Los Alamitos since 1991. But it was their defense that sparked the victory, sacking Los Alamitos quarterback Kevin Feterik 11 times.

“We were skeptical of their No. 1 ranking,” said Footman, who finished with 118 yards in 28 carries. “I know people doubted us after the loss to Ayala, but this win gives us our credibility.”

The loss ended a 19-game league winning streak for Los Alamitos (6-1, 1-1), and was the second defeat for the Griffins in the past 54 games.

“Tonight they just got after us,” Coach John Barnes said. “We started slow, but they came and won the game. That’s life. I’d rather lose now than later.”

The Aztecs’ plan to pressure Feterik--who still passed for 247 yards and a touchdown--worked from the third play of the game.

They sacked the Los Alamitos quarterback six times in the first half. Defensive tackle Sean Jarne had two of them.

In the first quarter, Esperanza quarterback David Parrish (159 yards passing) completed a 30-yard pass to Ryan Wilkins, who was stopped inside the one-yard line. Parrish then plunged over for the score.

Wilkins finished with seven receptions for 90 yards.

Esperanza moved 60 yards in nine plays in the second quarter, with Footman churning through the middle of the line for a five-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 edge.

By the time Esperanza got to halftime, though, the lead was down to four points.

Feterik got enough time to hook up with Stan Guyness on a 59-yard touchdown play. Guyness hauled in Feterik’s 50-yard throw, shook off an Aztec defender at the nine and strolled into the end zone to cut the deficit in half, 14-7.

Then the Los Alamitos’ defense came up with a big play. Defensive back Tony Hartley intercepted a pass by Parrish at the Griffins’ 21-yard line and returned it 43 yards with 42 seconds to play.

Los Alamitos got to Esperanza’s six-yard line but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Mike Phillips.