Sports

Football: Fountain Valley 10, Los Alamitos 7

Sunset League: Fountain Valley bounces back from a big loss, and Los Alamitos—despite setting a state record—fails to deliver a championship-worthy performance.

Los Alamitos had a chance to put an exclamation mark on its Sunset League journey to first place Thursday night and go into the Southwest Division playoffs riding tall in the saddle. Instead, they will go into the playoffs pushing a plow horse.

Ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section Southwest Division, and No. 10 in the Orange County Top 10,  the Los Alamitos defense allowed only 10 points in its Sunset League finale—and lost.

The Griffins were beaten by a Fountain Valley team backed into a corner, a week removed from getting shut out, 24-0 in its rivalry game against Edison.

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Two weeks ago, Los Alamitos beat Edison.

It’s hardly the way Los Al wants to go into the playoffs, and exactly the way Fountain Valley does.

Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For the victorious Barons, the performance was playoff worthy. It needed a victory and it upset a more highly-regarded team to do it. The Barons scored on their opening drive, added a field goal, and then made it stand up. Now, they’re the ones riding tall in the saddle into the playoffs.

Score: Fountain Valley 10, Los Alamitos 7

Key Stats: Isaiah Davis rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown for Fountain Valley.           

Pivotal Moment: Facing a fourth down situation, Los Alamitos needed 12 yards for a first down but instead went for 41 yards and a touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Nick Wendell threw deep, but the ball went off Dashawn Gordon’s hands. Could have been the decisive touchdown. Instead, the incomplete pass on the big play effort ended the drive and the Griffins’ chances.

Records: Fountain Valley (7-3 overall, 3-2 in Sunset League), Los Alamitos (8-2, 3-2)

Notes: According to the Orange County Register, when Michael Hayden scored from 1 yard with 10:26 left in the game, it gave Los Alamitos a state record 345 games without being shut out; it had been tied with Grass Valley Nevada Union. … Fountain Valley scored on its opening drive, less than three minutes in, and it’s a good thing it did because defense is Los Al’s strength. Fountain Valley took a 7-0 lead on Isaiah Davis’ 1-yard run, capping a nine-play, 67-yard drive. … The only other points mustered by the Barons was a 22-yard field goal by Jonah Mack with 47 seconds left in the third. … In eight of Los Alamitos' 10 games, it allowed 14 points or fewer eight times. ... Los Alamitos could have won a share of the league title with a victory; it could finish fourth depending on how things play out in other games, Edison (3-1 in league) against Marina (0-4) and Newport Harbor (3-1) against Huntington Beach (1-3). … If Edison and Newport lose, there would be a four-way tie for first place. That's not likely. ... Los Alamitos is ranked No. 3 in the Southwest Division, so if circumstances play out that it doesn’t get one of the league's three automatic berths, the Griffins should get one of two at-large berths available. … Fountain Valley, with a victory this season over Century League champion Foothill, is also likely to get an at-large berth if it comes to that. Basically, there’s almost no chance both teams won’t get into the playoffs, which begins next week. … There were 10 punts between the teams in the first half. … Los Alamitos hasn’t won a playoff game since 2004, when it reached the Division I finals.


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