The Los Alamitos High football team posted a shutout against Paramount in its season opener. The Griffins did the deed with a 27-0 victory on Friday, Sept. 6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach.
“We did enough (to win),” Los Alamitos head coach John Barnes said.
For the Griffins (1-0), quarterback Nick Wendell, who missed last season due to injury, went 13-for-28 for 175 yards.
He also threw a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Both landed in the hands of wide receiver DeShawn Gordon, who caught them for 32 and 23-yard scores.
Gordon would end with six catches for 119 yards.
Unfinished, Griffins fullback Mike Hayden ran in a 1-yard score before the end of the first quarter.
The Pirates (0-1) managed to keep the Griffins off the board in the second quarter, which—like all the other quarters—unfolded with no working clock.
In fact, neither side had any idea how much time was on the clock.
“It’s weird coaching with no clock,” Los Alamitos head coach John Barnes said. “So much of this game has to do with time.”
The Pirates defense, led by defensive end Joseph Williams and defensive lineman Joe Brown, delivered a solid outing.
However, the team was plagued by a series of penalties, which added up to over 130 yards.
It also struggled to move the chains in the second half.
In fact, Gregory Filler, who spent some time at quarterback, only compiled 27 yards on nine carries.
“We just weren’t awake,” Paramount head coach Matt Howard said.
Los Alamitos running back Kendall Brownlow ended with 17 carries for 99 yards. He also scored his team’s only score of the second half, reaching the end zone with a 19-yard run.
That drive began after Los Al defensive back Sam Corder-Lee made an interception.
Los Alamitos will visit Charter Oaks on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
