Griffins’ Defense Hangs On : Prep football: Los Alamitos holds off Mater Dei, 23-14, in Southern Section Division I game.

One last time, Los Alamitos’ defense trudged onto the field at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. One last time, it was asked to stop Mater Dei’s offense.

This, though, was more of a curtain call.

With 45 seconds left Friday, the Griffins had already accomplished what they failed a year ago in the Southern Section Division I playoffs. They had a 23-14 victory over the Monarchs in their grasp and they weren’t letting go this time.

Los Alamitos’ defense was responsible. The Griffins, known for their playground offense, had held back the Monarchs and will now face Los Angeles Loyola in the semifinals.

“Everybody talks about our offense,” defensive lineman Brent Cooper said. “We get ignored. I keep telling the guys on defense to keep doing their jobs, even though were no names.”

Cooper and the defense took center stage. Mater Dei (10-2) had chances in the second half, plenty of them. The Monarchs had the ball inside the Los Alamitos 30 on three consecutive possessions in the second half. All they could manage was a pair of missed field goals by Mike Fishbeck.

Defensive back Dave Bacani prevented touchdowns three times by tipping passes away in the end zone. Ife Ohalete ended another threat by intercepting a Nick Stremick pass.

Finally, it was left up to Cooper, who knocked down a fourth-down pass by Stremick, ending the Monarchs’ last serious threat.

“I’ve been waiting a whole year for this,” Cooper said.

At times, it must have seemed longer.

A year ago, the Monarchs rallied from a 10-point deficit with five minutes left to beat Los Alamitos, 28-24, in the semifinals. It ended the Griffins’ 47-game unbeaten streak, and Mater Dei went on to win the section title.

Los Alamitos (11-1), which had nine returning starters on defense, built a double-digit lead Friday, only to see it nearly wilt. Los Alamitos led, 16-0, at halftime, but the Monarchs (10-2) come back in the third quarter.

Linebacker Zach Pricer returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the half. The Monarchs then drove 85 yards on their next drive, with James Farley scoring on a one-yard run.

But the Griffins didn’t crumble.

Stremick, who was 13 of 24 for 157 yards, picked on Bacani twice on the Monarchs next drive, only to have the 5-foot-8 cornerback knock the ball away. Bacani also deflected a pass away on the Monarchs last drive.

“The came at me and I was up to the challenge,” Bacani said.

As were his teammates.

Mater Dei, which gained 379 yards rushing against the Griffins last season, was held to 70 yards this season.

Los Alamitos offense didn’t fare much better. Quarterback Kevin Feterik, who had 27 touchdown passes coming in, completed 10 of 19 passes for 175 yards and no touchdowns and had three passes intercepted. He completed only two passes in the second half.

A year ago, he had picked the Monarchs apart, passing for 328 yards.

“He had plenty of yards last year, but we won this year,” Coach John Barnes said. “I’d rather have the win.”

He got it with a big effort from running back Ryan Gragnano. The Monarchs, though, smothered receivers Tony Hartley and Stan Guyness.

Hartley had 72 receptions for 1,386 yards entering the game. He caught three for 92 yards, Guyness had 37 receptions an averaged 23 yards per catch. He was shutout.

But Gragnano gained 75 yards rushing and caught three passes for 48 yards. Gragnano scored on runs of nine, nine and one yards and set up a field goal with a 24-yard pass reception.