Los Alamitos Takes Charge With Defense

Los Alamitos has been winning with its defense this season and Thursday’s game against Bellflower St. John Bosco was no exception. The top-ranked Griffins cruised to a 28-0 victory before an estimated 3,000 at Veterans Stadium.

Los Alamitos’ offense played its part, too. Griffin quarterback Mike Sanford was 8 for 19 with one interception. He threw for 187 yards and two second-quarter touchdowns to wide receiver Steve Shinen. Running back Damon Johnson churned out a workmanlike 82 yards. Kicker Chris Kluwe added two of field goals.

But the stars were on the other side of the ball, starting with linebacker Paul Publico, who recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in the second quarter for the Griffins’ third touchdown of the game.

Los Alamitos (4-0) held the Braves (2-2) to 110 yards of total offense. St. John Bosco quarterback Gabriel Trevino was three of 13 for only 17 yards, but his receivers dropped five balls.

St. John Bosco’s deepest penetration into Los Alamitos territory was to the 23-yard line late in the fourth quarter. But Nick Fitzgerald stopped the drive by recovering a fumble, one of three recovered fumbles by the Griffins.

“I’ve learned to be a different coach with this group,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said. “I’ve always thought ‘attack, attack, attack’ with the offense. But now, if we can get a lead, it’s lull the other team to sleep and let’s go home. We’re quick to the ball and we’re not missing tackles. It’s still early and a long season, but I like this group.”

Publico, who scored his first touchdown as a Griffin, said the defense talked all summer of having to play well.

“We knew the offense was going to struggle for a while because Mike [Sanford] is learning a new system,” Publico said. “So we care about how the defense plays.

It was quiet but frustrating first quarter for Los Alamitos. The Griffins spent most of the period on the Braves’ side of the 50-yard line and twice got inside the 10. But they could only manage a 33-yard field goal by Kluwe.

But it took Los Alamitos only three plays into the second quarter to add to the lead. From the Braves’ 15, Sanford threw a perfect fade pass into the right corner of the end zone, and Shinen pulled in the ball for his first touchdown on the night.