LA HABRA – Los Alamitos was a Hail Mary shy of defeating La Habra a year ago.
The Highlanders perfected that play, executing it twice on their way to the CIF-SS Southwest Division championship in 2015.
But the Griffins were not to be denied this time.
Dylan Laurent scored four touchdowns to spark Los Alamitos to a 40-29 victory over La Habra in a nonleague game at La Habra High.
The Griffins (3-1) stormed the field when their payback was complete.
“It felt very good,” said defensive tackle Joey Noble, who had three sacks. “This is a team of hard workers. It’s about revenge.”
Laurent transferred in from Estancia as a junior. The running back is making the most of his first extended look with the Griffins as a senior.
He produced 188 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries.
“I just kept looking up field, looking for my blockers,” Laurent said. “We do a great job of setting things up. I couldn’t have asked for a better game plan.”
Los Alamitos’ offense operated at a frenetic pace when it was on the field. The Griffins quickly found the end zone on a 6-yard pass from Hayden Smith to tight end Drew Platt to start the game.
Laurent slipped free for scoring runs of 62 and 74 yards on Los Alamitos’ last two drives of the first half, and the Griffins took a 33-14 lead into halftime over the Highlanders (1-3).
The first came on a wide-receiver end-around that saw the senior break loose up the left sideline. On the second, Laurent kept his balance while cutting back through the middle of the Highlanders’ defense for the 74-yard touchdown with 48 seconds left in the half.
The Griffins only had four possessions in the first half, thanks to their prowess on special teams. Laurent’s big night began on a punt return on which he reversed field for a 60-yard touchdown that made it 13-0.
The next time Los Alamitos touched the ball, it resulted in an 89-yard kickoff return by Keanu Norman.
“When you’re on the other side of it, it kind of rips your heart out,” Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton said. “It deflates you for sure.”
Madison Wheeler scored twice on quarterback keepers for La Habra.
