The Griffins entered the 2002 season ranked #10 in the nation by USA Today.  The opener was a televised battle with defending D2 champion Hart which scored on a 65-yard deflected Hail Mary on the last play of the game to tie, 21-21.  The Griffins then broke Brea’s 15-game win streak with a 55-10 victory.  St. John Bosco, the eventual Serra League champs, fell to Los Al, 24-14 as All-CIF, All-County receiver Brandon Tripp hauled in 10 receptions.  All-CIF Kicker Kevin Garnarnik helped Los Al squeak by La Habra 24-20, and then the Griffins completed an undefeated pre-season by downing a very good Carson team 34-26.

Los Al rolled through the Sunset League, starting with a 16-12 win over Esperanza, and a 39-6 victory over Fountain Valley which gave Coach Barnes his record-setting 213th win, the most ever by any Orange County high school coach.

 After a 55-12 win over Millikan in the first round of CIF playoffs, Los Al faced a tough Bishop Amat team on a rainy Thanksgiving weekend.  Los Al rallied to win a 30-24 thriller that was never settled until the final gun.

 The semifinals saw Los Al return to Anaheim Stadium, now called Edison Field, in a Division 1 double-header.

The Griffins defense dominated the Loyola Cubs, holding them to one touchdown in a 31-7 victory as senior wide receiver Brad Manda caught two touchdown passes to lead Los Al into the finals against Mater Dei. 

14,182 fans were at the stadium and thousands more watching on live television saw Los Al crush Mater Dei 41-14 to win its first Division I Championship.  Quarterback Jeff Kline rushed for two more while running back Ryan Bagley rushed for 114 yards.