Los Alamitos’ Late Rally Beats Edison

Edison patiently and systematically built a 20-point lead over fifth-ranked Los Alamitos, but it all crumbled in 4 1/2 minutes.

That’s how long it took Griffin quarterback Sean Stein to throw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help Los Alamitos squeak past Edison, 21-20, in a Sunset League game Friday at Orange Coast College.

“We were trying to make all the big plays in the first half,” Stein said. “I was frustrated. But at halftime, I told [my teammates], ‘We’re not going to lose this game.’ ”

Stein’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Blair Havens with 2 minutes 26 seconds remaining tied it, 20-20, then kicker Mike Phillips added the extra point to provide the winning margin for Los Alamitos (8-1, 3-1 in league). Edison is 5-4, 1-3.

Los Alamitos running back Roy Roberts, who rushed for 87 yards in 14 carries, started the rally, scoring on a 42-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 21-7 with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Stein finished the rally with his fourth quarter scoring passes and completed nine of nine passes for 128 yards in the second half, finishing 15 of 21 for 187 yards.

Stein closed Los Alamitos within six points 4 1/2 minutes earlier in the fourth quarter, tossing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Havens on a fourth-and-goal to make it, 20-14, with 6:47 remaining. The play capped an 80-yard, 12-play drive.

The Griffins forced their first of three fourth-quarter turnovers after that touchdown, recovering a fumble at the Edison 45. Three plays later, Stein found Havens, who had six receptions for 97 yards, for the game-winning 30-yard touchdown pass.

The Griffin defense ended Edison’s next two possessions with interceptions from defensive backs Rollie Wing and Dave Bacani.

Edison didn’t have much trouble with the Griffin defense in the first half, scoring on its first three possessions. Edison had 17 first downs and 329 yards of total offense in the game.

Grady, who completed 12 of 21 passes for 160 yards, scored the Chargers’ first touchdown on a seven-yard scramble to cap an 80-yard drive on their first possession.

Grady then tossed a three-yard touchdown pass to Mike Buckingham to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive to make it, 14-0, with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Josh Kogler, who had 140 yards rushing in 25 carries, did the bulk of the damage on the ground.

Grady tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Buckingham to make it, 20-0, with 9:10 remaining in the second quarter, but Bacani blocked Jeff Hall’s conversion attempt. At that time, no one figured it would be the margin of victory.