Loyola Stuns Los Alamitos

Los Angeles Loyola finally put together its first successful goal-line stand of the season.

Thirteen weeks into it.

In overtime.

From the two-yard line.

That’s how the second-seeded Cubs stunned defending champion Los Alamitos on Saturday afternoon at the Home Depot Center in Carson. From a foot away on fourth down, defensive end Chris Jauregui connected with running back Joshua Jones’ midsection to preserve a 22-15 victory in the Southern Section Division I semifinals.

Loyola (10-3) is going to the title game for the first time since 2000.

It was a big night for Jauregui, who also plays strong guard.

* He made the game’s final tackle along with Brian Rey and Ian Wilson.

* He scored on a 37-yard interception return to cut an early deficit to one, 7-6.

* He ran 22 yards on a fumblerooski that set up Thomas Weber’s 31-yard field goal, giving Loyola a 9-7 lead.

In the end, there was the Stop.

“We sent the house -- everyone but two guys,” said Jauregui, a 6-foot-2, 238-pound senior. “It’s all about heart.”

Few could doubt the heart of the Cubs, even though they failed to win the game in regulation because they allowed Los Alamitos (11-2) to travel 68 yards in two plays with 1 minute 52 seconds left.

Griffin receiver Brian Gordon caught a pass from Jimmy Barnes at the 32 and raced into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown that tied the score, 15-15.

At that point, Loyola could have folded. Instead, starting from the 25 in overtime, Scott Deke passed 17 yards to James Abbott. After an incomplete pass, Deke ran for four yards, then rifled a four-yard touchdown pass between two defenders to Wilson.

Weber, who earlier missed two extra-point attempts -- one was blocked -- converted for a 22-15 advantage.

Then it was up to Loyola’s defense.

A 21-yard pass to Jeremy Childs followed by an offside penalty, and Los Alamitos had a first down at the two-yard line. Four times the Griffins gave the ball to Jones, a converted linebacker who had earlier bulled his way into the end zone on a seven-yard pass reception for a 7-0 lead.

Four tries up the middle and Jones gained only five feet. He needed six.

“That’s the first goal-line stand, from inside the five-yard line, where we stopped them,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “Our defense played a great game.”

Loyola limited Jones to 36 yards in 20 carries. Barnes completed 13 of 25 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns but had the costly interception. The Griffins outgained Loyola, 278 yards to 156, but turnovers hurt them.

In addition to Jauregui’s interception return, Los Alamitos had driven 50 yards when Jones lost a fumble at the Loyola 30. Matt Hillier recovered and the Cubs later scored on a three-yard run by Trason Bragg with 7:55 left to take a 15-7 lead.