Eyeing the Eagles, Los Alamitos Coasts Past L.A. University, 56-0

Los Alamitos' football team jumped on University High of Los Angeles early and never looked back as the Griffins rolled past the Wildcats, 56-0, in an intersectional game Thursday night at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.

The Griffins (4-0) came out fast and led 21-0 with the offense having run only three plays. On University’s first possession, sophomore defensive back Samuel Corder-Lee blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone to give Los Alamitos a 7-0 lead.

The Griffins’ first possession was a short drive set up by a punt return by Cody Paul to the Wildcats' 31-yard line. Senior quarterback Dylan Lagarde capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to senior fullback Joe Locher for a 14-0 lead.

On the Wildcats’ ensuing possession, junior cornerback James Stea intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead. The fast start was nothing new to the Griffins.

“All four games we’ve started very fast,” said coach John Barnes, who picked up career victory No. 293, putting him fourth on the all-time wins list in the state of California. He passed Dick Bruick of Fontana High.

University fell to 1-2.

Barnes admitted that despite the usual mantra of "one game at a time," he and his team have had their sights on next Thursday’s matchup with Santa Margarita. Last year, the Griffins were 3-1 when they met the Eagles and Santa Margarita handed them a 31-7 loss.

The memory of that defeat hasn’t faded.

“I have so much revenge in my body, I’m so ready,” senior receiver Kyle Roberts said. “These last two weeks have been like, ‘Let’s be ready for these teams, but we’re looking towards Santa Margarita.’”

Roberts had two touchdown receptions, including a 71-yard catch and run on a quick slant pattern that put the Griffins up 49-0 at halftime. Lagarde had 177 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Senior running back Cody Paul rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown and returned the second-half kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring.

Now the Griffins, ranked No. 10 in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division coaches' poll, prepare to face No. 6 Santa Margarita on Thursday night at Veterans Stadium, beginning at 7:30.

After a bye week, Los Alamitos will have its Sunset League opener at Edison on Oct. 13. These are the two games the Griffins have had circled on their schedule since spring practice.

“We have two very tough games back-to-back,” Barnes said.