The Los Alamitos Griffin football team lost 31-7 to the Santa Margarita Eagles.
Playing another evening away game on Saturday at Saddleback College the Griffins where dominated by the Eagles.
From the kickoff, Santa Margarita stalled the Griffins’ offense.
Cody Paul, # 5, of the Griffins was shut down. Santa Margarita possessed the ball almost two-thirds of the quarter.
Adam Young, the 6’2” senior quarterback of Santa Margarita, dominated play with the option and many of the times keeping the ball for big yardage. His passing slipped through the Griffins defensive backfield for large gains.
Despite great efforts from Traveeon Bennett, #10, defensive back for the Griffins the Eagles scored on touchdown pass giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Offensively the Griffins could not get its running game together.
For Los Al’s passing game. Dylan Lagarde, # 3, was scrambling for his life and missed a few passes to his receivers, who at time seemed to be flooding his receivers in the same zone areas. Los Alamitos continued to be on the punting game to the Eagles.
Santa Margarita offense plundered about five yards on the option run. Sorely missed was injured Joe Locher # 31, who sat in the grand stands with his elevated leg in a cast, with a broken tibia.
Locher was a continuous plugger who had his nose in on the second tackle putting down running backs. Joe will be out for the season. He will be missed. Andrew “Church” Faraimo has picked up for Joe on defense and has continuous tackles on follow up pursuit of runners.
The second quarter was just like the first quarter with Santa Margarita dominating the ball and scoring on a 40 yd TD run, catching the Griffins in a blitz by the linebackers.
That gave the Eagles a 14-O lead. On offense, Haven Fielding, #14, provided the crowd with some nice catches and throws from Dylan Lagarde.
Andrew Main, #75, displayed excellent blocking on pass defense and really pushed on opening some nice holes for new running back Andrew “Church” Faraimo. Main showed some rambling angry runs as he now comes into his second week as a running back for the Griffins. Santa Margarita scored its third touchdown in this quarter.
Half time came not soon enough with the Griffins down 21-0.
Half Time Report.
Again the band was absent because of distance. Half time was saved by Jennifer Ramirez’ Cheer and Song girls in friendly competition with the Eagles Cheerleaders.
The Los Alamitos girls blew out the Santa Margarita Cheer leaders in their performance, much to the delight of the good-sized crowd attending Los Alamitos fans that drove the distance for the Griffins. Cheerleader of the week goes to Arvienne Javrev, a senior whose continuous pep, over joyous smile through the game is an example of Griffin spirit.
As the half-time ended the Griffins were to kick-off. Los Al knew it needed to have possession of the ball to win the game.
The second half started with an on-side kick that was recovered barely by the Eagles.
Faraimo was right in the middle of the recovery struggle.
Santa Margarita again dominated the ball in the third quarter and came up with another touchdown, making the score 28-0 and looking very grim for the Griffins.
Again, in this third quarter Andrew Main was out knocking Eagle players down and seemed to be out on his own having a great sense of playing the game. Conner Thompson #64 was injured in the third quarter and played well in the game. On offense, Dylan Lagarde was feeling the pressure of the Eagles defense and actually scrambled well and completed a few passes to his favorite receiver Haven Fielding.
Haven Fielding runs a good pattern and if he seeps thru the zone defense shows good hands and runs well after the catch. Los Alamitos again faced another close fourth and two and was forced to punt, about its sixth of the game. Santa Margarita marched the ball down, the Los Alamitos now lead by Andrew Faraimo, and hit man Aaron Davis stalled the Eagles to a kick 35 yd field goal giving the Eagles a 31-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.
On offense Legarde deserves credit for scrambling and moving the ball down field. Lagarde hit Richard Turner # 2 for 14-yard touchdown pass and the Griffins only score. Down 31-7 Coach Barnes, who likes going to the well a few times successfully called another on side kick the Griffins recovered.
Driving down field Legarde let go a prayer and was intercepted by the Eagles ending the game and a long bus ride home for the Griffins.
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