HUNTINGTON BEACH From heartbreak to healing to hunger.
That’s the emotional trek Los Alamitos completed Thursday night as it bounced back from a “heartbreaking” defeat to open the Sunset League in impressive fashion.
Quarterback Jack Telenko threw a career-high five touchdown passes and the team’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown as the No. 9 Griffins defeated Fountain Valley, 34-6, at Huntington Beach.
Last week, Los Alamitos (5-1, 1-0) came up 1 yard short of a winning touchdown on the final play at L.A. City Section power Narbonne of Harbor City, falling, 30-26. But the Griffins stuffed Fountain Valley’s ground attack Thursday and rode Telenko’s arm past the Barons (4-2, 0-1).
“We knew after the loss last week we were going to have to come out with all the fight in us,” Telenko said. “It was pretty rough about five minutes (after the game last week), but we knew we just had to forget about it. As soon as we got back (to school), it was over.”
Telenko completed 9 of 20 passes but five went for touchdowns, including a spectacular 19-yard leaping catch in the side of the end zone by wide receiver Jacob Gasser early in the fourth to cap the scoring. Telenko, a junior, threw for 198 yards, including a 59-yard TD to Gasser in the first quarter.
Tight end Matt Nelson also caught two touchdowns and running back Denzal Brantley added 106 yards on 22 carries.
The Griffins’ defense also delivered a strong performance, holding Fountain Valley to 75 yards rushing and 47 passing. The Barons played without quarterback Chad Olberding (knee), but also hurt themselves with several penalties.
Fountain Valley’s lone score came on a 60-yard interception return by linebacker Stone Escobedo midway through the third.
“We had a loss and it was kind of humbling and we just never wanted to feel that again,” Los Alamitos defensive end Will Armstrong said. “Our defense is really good this year and we’re just trying to prove it.”
Los Alamitos led, 21-0, at halftime behind three touchdowns by Telenko and an early spark from its defense.
Telenko tossed a 59-yard TD strike to Gasser on a play-action play give the Griffins a 6-0 lead with 2:55 left in the first quarter. The scoring play came one play after Armstrong recorded a tackle for loss on the Barons’ fourth-and-4 attempt from the Griffins 38.
On Fountain Valley’s next possession, Los Alamitos’ Timothy Tyler recovered a low snap on a punt at the Barons 21, setting up Telenko’s second TD pass. Telenko threw a 6-yard TD on third-and-goal to Nelson with 46 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Telenko struck on third down again in the second quarter, connecting with wide receiver Connor Iris for a 16-yard TD for a 21-0 lead with 4:41 left in the second quarter.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
