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Los Alamitos underclassmen laid down their helmets, one after the other, on the five-yard line.
Griffins junior working again Kamden Tillis was already overcome by emotion, the truth of a 42-21 defeat to San Diego Cathedral within the Division 1-AA regional closing sinking into Los Alamitos because the gamers mentioned goodbye.
“I hate this second,” mentioned Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton, who led his program to a 12-3 file and a Southern Part Division 2 title.
Tillis, alongside along with his teammates, embraced every senior on the purpose line. Hug after hug. Phrases of brotherhood overpowering the sensations of a crushing defeat.
“I beloved them to demise,” Tillis mentioned of the Griffins’ seniors.
Los Alamitos defensive finish Jackson Renger, who recorded a sack Friday night time at Veterans Stadium and helped lead a defensive fury to defeat San Clemente every week in the past, pounded on the again of junior linebacker Koa Marasco as he advised Renger of how a lot he meant to him.
Los Alamitos receiver Ashton Gogue heads upfield after a reception towards San Diego Cathedral on Friday night time.
(Craig Weston)
“These are my greatest buddies,” Renger mentioned.
Perception is constructed into Los Alamitos’ gamers bones.
Losses to Mission Viejo and San Clemente threw a wrench within the route the Griffins took to get this far. On every step of its journey to the state semifinal, Fenton’s program rallied.
The Griffins held a 14-7 lead early within the sport Friday, utilizing touchdowns on a Colin Creason-to-Ashton Gogue 26-yard go and a two-yard quarterback keeper to set a tone towards the Dons.
However as the sport reached halftime, the brunt of Cathedral’s bigger offensive and defensive traces proved tough to beat.
Tillis stormed to a 26-yard carry to convey Los Alamitos to the nine-yard line with six seconds remaining within the first half.
Two makes an attempt to punch the ball in fell quick on incomplete passes earlier than a 26-yard field-goal try went extensive left. As an alternative of being up by three factors, the Griffins and Dons entered halftime tied at 14.
San Diego Cathedral working again Honor Fa’alave-Johnson jumps over a fallen blocker to cross the purpose line towards Los Alamitos on Friday night time.
(Craig Weston)
“We misplaced momentum,” Fenton mentioned. “We had it going.”
Cathedral opened the half with two lengthy landing passes from quarterback Brady Palmer to extensive receiver Isaac Cook dinner, who completed with 183 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and iced the sport with their closing connection, a nine-yard landing go with 1:53 left on the clock. The Dons scored 28 unanswered factors.
Tillis by no means gave up, nonetheless, telling himself not to consider the longer term, he mentioned. Los Alamitos prevented a second-half goose egg due to a 45-yard landing run from the 5-foot-11 tailback.
For Creason, in a season the place, as Fenton put it, many believed Los Alamitos wouldn’t end with a profitable file, the Griffins exceeded their very own expectations by making it to a regional closing.
“We already bought what we wished to perform, however, I imply, this 12 months has been magical,” the Griffins senior signal-caller mentioned.
And for Fenton, he’s grateful for the experience Los Alamitos introduced him.
“Once you don’t have these expectations and strain on you to win each sport, you get higher on daily basis,” Fenton mentioned. “Rapidly, I appeared up and I’m going, ‘Oh my god, we’re within the finals.’ I truthfully didn’t know we have been within the finals. It was simply one other sport for us to say we’re within the finals.”
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