Late Field Goal Gives Esperanza Hat Trick Against Los Alamitos

Esperanza and Los Alamitos have opened Sunset League play against each other the past three years. And although the league title is not yet on the line, it seems that way.

So you can imagine the Griffins’ consternation after getting dumped a third straight time by the Aztecs. Esperanza came away with a 31-28 come-from-behind victory in front of an estimated 5,500 Friday at Valencia High.

Kicker Nathan Fikse delivered the final blow of the evening, a 28-yard field goal with 11 seconds left. It was the only time in the game Esperanza (4-2, 1-0) led Los Alamitos, ranked fourth in the county.

“I’ve never had the chance for a game-winning kick before,” said Fikse, a junior. “I was nervous but once I hit it I knew it was good. This is the greatest feeling in the world beating them three times in a row.”

Fikse was the final hero in Friday’s game, but he was not alone. The two offenses combined for more than 800 yards.

Esperanza running back Brent Garrison ran for 129 yards in 22 carries, the most important of those being the 24 yards in his final two rushes to put the ball at the Griffins’ 11 and set up Fikse’s kick.

All-purpose back Jamie Smith caught one touchdown pass and ran for two others. His five-yard run tied the score for the last time, 28-28, with 2:54 to play.

Aztec quarterback Grant Wagner threw for a career-best 350 yards and two touchdowns.

“That was the one thing that scared me,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. “We hadn’t gotten any big plays from the passing game and Los Al had been doing it all season. But Grant played the game of his life.”

“Tonight is the best I’ve ever felt,” Wagner said. “We were so pumped up all week for Los Al, especially after the way we lost [42-21] to Muir last week.”

In losing for the first time this season, Los Alamitos (5-1, 1-0) squandered leads of 14-0, 21-14 and 28-21. Also wasted was a 310-yard passing effort by quarterback Zach Blazek, and huge nights by Blair Havens (174 yards receiving) and Keenan Howry (149 yards). All four Los Alamitos touchdowns were by rushing, two by Blazek.

A key penalty in the fourth quarter left Griffin Coach John Barnes seething. Los Alamitos led, 28-21, and seemed to have wrapped up the game when defensive back Brandon Cheri appeared to intercept a Wagner pass at the Los Alamitos 26 and return it for a touchdown.

However, the Los Alamitos defense was cited for roughing the passer, giving the ball back to Esperanza.

“That ref must have made the call of his life,” said Barnes, with traces of bitterness. “It was a bang-bang play, and it totally changed the game.”