LONG BEACH — With so much on the line for two evenly matched teams, it seemed almost fitting that the Alpha League game between San Clemente and Los Alamitos on Thursday came down to a single play.
The Tritons were trailing by 7 when Jack Ferguson connected with Jaxson Rex for a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the game.
The Griffins’ Johnny Howze then ran through a hole in the line and blocked the ensuing point-after attempt, and Los Alamitos escaped with a 28-27 victory at Veterans Stadium.
Los Alamitos players celebrate after a blocked extra point attempt in the final minute of play against San Clemente on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Jaxson Rex tries to escape the grasp of a lunging Arion Lang of Los Alamitos on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente senior Dawson Martinez (#11) picks up yards on a quarterback run Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action against Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Max Kotiranta (#2) can’t come up with a reception but Los Alamitos’ Jackson Bennett (#24) is called for pass interference on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Jesse Torres (#84) carries the ball on a kickoff return on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action against Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente sophomore wide receiver Jaxson Rex (#14) gets a congratulatory hug after scoring a touchdown late in the fourth quarter Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action against Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos blocks an extra-point attempt by San Clemente in the final minute a game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, to preserve a 28-27 victory over the Tritons in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos running back Lenny Ibarra (#28) muscles his way towards the end zone to score a touchdown against San Clement with just :34 remaining in the fourth quarter on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos senior quarterback Alonzo Esparza helped lead the Griffins to a thrilling 28-27 win over San Clemente on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Tron Baker (#3) breaks free on this way to scoring a second quarter touchdown against San Clemente on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos defensive back Justice Croffie (#5) deflects a San Clemente second quarter field goal attempt on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos players celebrate after a blocked extra point attempt in the final minute of play against San Clemente on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Alpha League action at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The No. 11 Griffins improved to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the four-team Alpha League, while the No. 10 Tritons dropped to 4-5 and 0-2.
Only the top two finishers in a four-team league receive automatic playoff berths. The other two teams will have to hope they receive an at-large berth for the playoffs. Teams with .500-and-above records have priority for the at-large berths.
The Griffins will finish the regular season on Friday, Nov. 1, against No. 2-ranked Mission Viejo.
The Tritons likely need to win their final game next week, against Edison, to have a good chance for an at-large berth.
“Both teams were coming in at 4-4, feeling like this was a playoff game.” Griffins coach Ray Fenton said. “Both teams played crazy schedules. We’re both in the Top 30 in the state but scrapping to get five wins. And I was just glad to see our guys be gritty today.”
Lenny Ibarra scored on a 9-yard run, his third touchdown of the game, to give the Griffins a 28-21 lead with 34 seconds remaining.
The Tritons then took over on their own 16 with no timeouts and gained 56 yards on a perfectly executed hook-and-ladder play on first down.
Ferguson spiked the ball on the next play, leaving 17 seconds left, and then threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Rex, setting up the extra-point attempt.
Howze said teammate Jackson Renger blocked out a San Clemente lineman and opened a hole for him to get through to block the kick.
Johnny Howze blocked the potential game-tying point-after attempt with 13 seconds left in the game to help Los Alamitos escape with a 28-27 victory over San Clemente on Thursday, Oct. 24. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
“I got one hand on it,” Howze said. “My left hand is still stinging right now.”
The Griffins also blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.
Both teams scored on long drives and both teams converted on third and fourth downs on those drives.
Both teams also made fourth-down stops and created turnovers.
“It’s the Alpha League for a reason,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “They play Mission Viejo and we’ll see what happens there. Then after that, we’ll see how things break down. Our kids battled but didn’t make the plays when he had to. And we’ve got to regroup and come back next week and play a very good Edison team.”
