Griffins Roll Past Third Tough Team
The bigger they come, the harder they fall for Los Alamitos.
The second-ranked Griffins knocked off their third tough opponent in three weeks Thursday night, scoring 21 fourth-quarter points in a 42-25 victory over previously unbeaten Bellflower St. John Bosco in Bellflower.
Los Alamitos (4-0) defeated Santa Margarita and Lawndale Leuzinger the last two weeks and is 2-0 against Serra League teams.
St. John Bosco (3-1) made a run at the Griffins when it closed to within 21-17 with a 21-yard Mike Matuz field goal early in the fourth quarter.
But Los Alamitos took the momentum back for good when Jason Crissman returned the ensuing onside kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown and a 28-17 lead. Griffin running back Joe Garcia spun into the end zone for another score and a 35-17 cushion only 2 minutes 32 seconds later.
“We’ve played three tough teams in a row,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said. “That’s a good Bosco team.
“We’re just still trying to find ourselves. But we found ourselves a little because we threw the ball well.”
Griffin quarterback Mike Catalano completed 13 of 17 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to receiver Tony Holder, who finished with nine catches for 161 yards.
Holder scored both his touchdowns in the first half as Los Alamitos took a 21-7 lead. On the Griffins’ first possession, Holder took a screen pass and ran nine yards for the game’s first score.
After the teams traded touchdowns, Holder caught a pass near the Brave 10-yard line, faked out one remaining defender and scored to make it 21-7.
Adam Nauta returned to the Griffin lineup for the first time since late in the Santa Margarita game and rushed 13 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. Running back Joe Garcia added 81 yards and a touchdown in 10 carries.
