After 36 years with John Barnes at the helm, Los Alamitos lost its first game under new coach Ray Fenton, falling, 27-20, to Long Beach Poly at Cerritos College on Friday night.
The Griffins tried a variety of plays against the Jackrabbits, attempting two onside kicks, faking two punts, attempting two flea-flickers and faking a field goal for a touchdown.
“That’s who we are,” Fenton said. “It’s a game, it is serious but it’s fun too. Doing things a little bit outside the box loosens up our kids and gets us to relax a little bit.
“It makes their defense play a little slower because they don’t know what the heck we’re going to do.”
Fenton pulled the first trick out of his hat following a touchdown run by Long Beach Poly’s Aaron Shampklin late in the first quarter. Quarterback Hayden Smith found a wide open Zach Ruiz for a 47-yard touchdown off a flea-flicker.
After forcing a three and out, the Griffins got the ball back and used a reverse to Dylan Laurent to move into field-goal range. After the drive stalled, the Griffins faked a kick and RJ Gonzalez caught the pass from holder Grant Caraway.
After taking the lead, the Griffins tried their first onside kick, but it was recovered by Long Beach Poly. However, the Griffins were able to get the football back by recovering a Poly fumble.
Los Alamitos drove into Jackrabbits territory again. Going for it on fourth down, Smith picked up a bad snap off the ground and found Tre Ballard for a 22-yard catch to set up a 3-yard run by Gonzalez.
Late in the fourth quarter, after Long Beach Poly scored 20 consecutive points to take the lead, Los Alamitos used a fake punt to keep a drive alive. But the Griffins eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Los Alamitos forced a punt with just more than a minute left, but Smith was picked off, allowing Long Beach Poly to run out the clock.
