Jones Lifts Los Alamitos to Victory

Los Alamitos took another crack at trying to stop Santa Margarita tailback Ashton White in its Southern Section Division I quarterfinal Friday night.

That didn’t work. But the Griffins had something different in store for the Eagles.

Quarterback Jeff Kline, looking more comfortable in place of injured starter Tim Bessolo, sparked the Los Alamitos offense and running back Quenton Jones out-dueled White in the Griffins’ 29-20 victory before an estimated 5,000 at Veterans Stadium.

In a nonleague game in September, White dominated on both sides of the ball to lead Santa Margarita (8-2-2) to a 21-14 victory. But Jones, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior, outshone White on Friday.

Jones ran for 193 yards, including a key 54-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that gave the Griffins (9-2-1) a 26-13 lead. He also had a 39-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“He only needs a little room and he can break it open at any time,” Kline said. “With his speed, he can take it the house every time.”

White rushed for 162 yards on 28 carries and scored a touchdown for the Eagles.

Quarterback Marshall Tharpe threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns. But the difference was Kline, who has started the last four games while Bessolo has been sidelined with a knee injury. Kline, a converted junior wide receiver, ran for 103 yards on 14 carries and also threw for 108 and a touchdown.

After Santa Margarita grabbed a 6-0 lead, Kline led the Griffins on a seven-play, 65-yard drive on the ensuing possession. Kline completed three consecutive passes to pick up two first downs. He got Los Alamitos down to the Eagle 32-yard line but the Griffins were facing fourth-and-two.

Kline faked a handoff to Jones that fooled the entire Santa Margarita defense. He went around right end on the option keeper and before any Eagle defender could notice, went untouched into the end zone.

“Their linebackers were keying on Quenton and they should because he’s a good running back,” Kline said. “I don’t think they caught on to that at all.”

Tharpe connected with Bobby Whithorne on a five-yard scoring pass that cut the Griffins’ lead to 26-20 with 4:13 remaining. Los Alamitos clinched a semifinal-round meeting with Long Beach Poly when Nick Koromelas kicked a 34-yard field goal with 1:07 left. Jones’ second-quarter touchdown run gave Los Alamitos its first lead, 13-6. It grew to 20-6 with one minute left in the first half when Kevin Van Gorder made a diving catch of a 35-yard pass from Kline.

Santa Margarita initiated the scoring when Tharpe connected with Brandon Clark on a 22-yard touchdown pass.