Kline Puts Los Alamitos on Fast Track

It took Los Alamitos High all of five seconds Saturday night to send the message that it was intent on winning its first Southern Section Division I football title.

That was the time it took Randy Estes of the Griffins to sprint downfield on the opening kickoff and greet Santa Ana Mater Dei’s Corey Boudreaux with a how-do-you-do tackle that sent him crashing to the turf.

Then Los Alamitos quarterback Jeff Kline made like a gazelle, weaving effortlessly through defenders for three rushing touchdowns and passing for another as the Griffins took control before the end of the third quarter.

The rest was just details as Los Alamitos overwhelmed its Orange County rival, 41-14, before 14,812 at Edison Field.

Kline finished with three touchdowns rushing, two passing and 293 all-purpose yards for the Griffins (13-0-1), who exacted revenge against a Mater Dei program that had won three of four playoff meetings between the schools in the 1990s.

“I can’t even express what I feel right now I’m so happy,” said Kline, who rushed for 129 yards in 12 carries and completed 14 of 23 passes for 164 yards.

“We thought it was going to be a defensive struggle, but they had to respect our passing game and it opened up a lot of holes.”

Los Alamitos tailback Ryan Bagley also took advantage of the openings, rushing for 109 yards in 17 carries.

“We missed a lot of tackles and it just got out of control,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “We thought we had [their offense] schemed; we just didn’t have it tonight.”

Mater Dei (10-4) played well in spurts but could never mount a threat after falling behind, 20-0, midway through the second quarter.

Running back Rafael Rice scored both of the Monarchs’ touchdowns -- on a one-yard run and a 10-yard reception -- but Mater Dei only converted four of 11 third downs and committed two turnovers.

For the second game in a row, Rice fumbled on Mater Dei’s opening possession, but the Monarchs escaped damage when Kevin Gamarnik’s 22-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

Gamarnik connected on his next attempt, from 32 yards, to give the Griffins a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Los Alamitos went ahead, 10-0, early in the second quarter when Kline faked a handoff and ran to his right for a three-yard touchdown.

The Griffins increased their advantage to 17-0 on Kline’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Childs midway through the second quarter.

“He’s just a playmaker with his feet, his arm and mostly his brain,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said of Kline, a 6-foot-2 senior who hasn’t garnered serious interest from colleges. “I’m glad to have him.”

It was the fourth section title and first since 1993 for Barnes, who earlier this season became the winningest coach in Orange County history. He has 217 victories in 24 seasons.