Los Alamitos Scores a Lot but Learns Little in 51-0 Victory

Just what Los Alamitos gained from another laugher over hapless Los Angeles Washington Thursday night probably won’t be known until a week from tonight.

That’s when the Griffins, ranked No. 3 in the county, take on No. 10 Santa Margarita. The Eagles surely won’t surrender as easily as Washington, a team that looked like it was wearing pads for the first time during its 51-0 loss to Los Alamitos at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

Since 1994, Los Alamitos has gone 7-0 against the Generals, outscoring them, 321-48. No wonder Griffin Coach John Barnes said after the game that he is calling off the annual series.

“They told me they would be better than they were,” he said. “It’s tough to find a first game.”

Barnes found positives in his team’s effort, though.

“It helped us get all the butterflies out, to be challenged and hit somebody other than ourselves,” he said.

Those butterflies showed early after Los Alamitos executed the first of three consecutive blocked punts. On their first offensive series, which began at the Generals’ 16-yard line, the Griffins were stopped on downs.

It was a brief moment of glory for Washington, which took over at its five-yard line. Five plays later, the Griffins’ Bob Crissman blocked Robert Jones’ punt and Los Alamitos recovered at the Generals’ 12-yard line.

On the next play, senior quarterback Mike Catalano passed to Kevin Van Gorder for a touchdown. Soon, the rout was on.

The third consecutive blocked punt led to a safety and by halftime Los Alamitos was cruising, 30-0. Barnes called off the punt-rush after that and substituted liberally in the second half. Washington crossed the 50-yard line only once, on its final series.

Barnes said he liked the performance by his offensive line and Catalano, who completed seven of nine passes for 68 yards and the touchdown.

He also praised junior Tim Bessolo, who completed all but one of his six passing attempts for 56 yards. After a slow start, running back Adam Nauta gained 73 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 20 and five yards.