Los Alamitos’ Passes Beat Loara

Forget about those back spasms that have plagued Los Alamitos quarterback Sean Stein.

Stein completed 23 of 32 passes for a school-record 441 yards and four touchdowns to lead Los Alamitos past Loara, 45-22, in a nonleague game Friday night at Western High.

It was the second-best passing performance in county history. Mike Willes of Fullerton passed for 477 yards against San Bernardino in 1981. The school record of 404 yards was set by Mike Good in 1993 in a playoff game against Huntington Beach.

“I wanted to play real bad and I was in pain all week but I just practiced through it,” said Stein, who sat out a 27-14 over Los Angeles Washington last week. “The spasms bothered me a bit, but once I got in the game my adrenaline took over.”

Ife Ohalete, who had two interceptions, scored four times, three as a wide receiver on passes from Stein and once on a 36-yard interception return. Ohalete who caught Stein’s final pass in the flat and turned it into a 69-yard touchdown reception, finished with six catches for 209 yards. Split end Ryan Dunbar caught 10 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown and extra point. Mike Phillips kicked three field goals.

Running back John Duhon of Loara had 113 yards rushing and a touchdown. Quarterback Archie Lappin passed for 138 yards, most of it late, and was intercepted four times.

Los Alamitos scored 17 points in the first 7:30 of play.

Stein drove the Griffins 53 yards in seven plays, and when the drive stalled at the Loara 21, Phillips kicked a 38-yard field goal.

Loara couldn’t get anything going on its next drive and Stein wasted little time getting on the scoreboard again. After a 15-yard completion to Dunbar, Stein found Ohalete down the middle and behind defensive back Nick Lara at the Loara 35. Ohalete caught the ball in stride and did the rest, cutting left and up the sideline for a touchdown.

Ohalete made it 17-0 with 4:33 seconds left in the quarter when he picked off an Archie Lappin pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.

But Loara didn’t quit. Duhon capped an 11-play, 59-yard drive midway through the second quarter with a two-yard run for a score.

Ohalete countered with a 65-yard touchdown catch on the very next play from scrimmage, but Loara took advantage of a Los Alamitos fumble at its 25 and four plays later Lappin made it 24-14 on a one-yard plunge.

Los Alamitos countered once again. This time it was on an 83-yard kickoff return for an apparent touchdown by Dave Bacani. But a holding call nullified the run, and the Griffins had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Phillips at the half came to an end.

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All-Time Passers

COUNTY ONE-GAME YARDAGE LEADERS

1. Mark Willes: 477

Fullerton vs. San Bernardino, 1981

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2. Sean Stein: 441

Los Alamitos vs. Loara, 1996

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3. Jeff Taylor: 422

Ocean View vs. Saddleback, 1995

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4. Brad Hillman: 418

Sonora vs. Ontario, 1970

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5. Andy Bielanski: 407

Savanna vs. La Habra, 1967