The 2000 football team started the season unranked, but quickly gained notice with a 21-14 televised win over sixth-ranked Santa Margarita.  Nose tackle Mike Patterson (who would become an All-American at USC and go on to a successful NFL career with Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants) led the defense with six tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

After downing Marina in their league opener, the Griffins fell to Edison, 29-14, despite QB Mike Catalano’s school single-game record 27 completed passes, ten of them to Tony Holder.  Los Al then won three straight to earn its 17th straight playoff berth, but they fell in the first round to a great Eisenhower team, 35-21.