Griffins Again Gain Playoffs

Eighth-ranked Los Alamitos, which has reached the Southern Section playoffs 13 consecutive seasons--the longest streak in the county--needed a victory Thursday to assure itself a 14th.

The Griffins played as if they had a thorough understanding of school tradition--at least on offense.

Los Alamitos scored 28 points in the first quarter, showing an opportunistic nature en route to a 42-21 Sunset League victory over Huntington Beach.

Los Alamitos (8-2, 3-2 in league) can finish no worse than third after tonight’s two Sunset League games. Bottom line: Another trip to the Division I playoffs.

“I’m looking forward to the playoffs,” Coach John Barnes said. “I think we might be able to sneak up on a few guys.”

There was nothing sneaky Thursday. Junior Ryan Godfrey returned a punt for a touchdown and rushed for two others in the first quarter for Los Alamitos. He carried 17 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Zack Blazek, averaging 30.8 passes per game, completed three of a season-low eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown to Keenan Howry.

Huntington Beach (2-7-1, 0-4-1) didn’t go down without a scrap. The Oilers, playing under their third coach in three years, concluded its first under Tony Ciarelli by cutting its early 21-point deficit to 28-14 with 6:13 left in the first half. Blazek’s scoring pass came three minutes later.

Huntington Beach outgained Los Alamitos, 305-189, and ran 68 plays to the Griffins’ 40.

But those numbers didn’t matter because in the first quarter, the Griffins scored:

* On a one-yard sneak by Blazek after Brandon Cheri’s 41-yard punt return to the four-yard line.

* On a 57-yard punt return by Godfrey.

* On a four-play, 41-yard drive helped by a 13-yard face-mask penalty at the end of Godfrey’s 16-yard run. Godfrey did the honors from the one.

* When Godfrey gained 25 yards on two runs, the last a seven-yard touchdown, after Howry’s 48-yard kickoff return.

Howry’s play came after the Oilers cut the lead to 21-7 when Shaun Shuck (32 carries, 172 yards, two touchdowns) ran for 60 of the drive’s 61 yards.

Godfrey’s third scoring run came after Bernard Riley recovered a fumbled snap at the Oilers’ 38 in the third quarter. That made it 42-14 with 1:29 left.

Damon Van Hoorebeke’s one-yard run ended an 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter.