The 2020 Los Alamitos Griffins faced the greatest challenge that any team has faced, a global pandemic. For nine months Los Al did what was accepted according to the health authorities in California and Orange County could allow. The 2020 season was constantly threatened and delayed. By January 2021, California was one of a dozen states that had yet to play a football season due to the pandemic. Beginning in February, CIF and the State of California approved adjusted guidelines to allow football. After nine months of no, these players are finally told yes. This special group will be led by seniors Shain Allen, George Becerril Jr., Aidan Brennan, Mason Burt, Tyler DeLeon, Caleb Gossett, Erick Hernandez, Ryan Inez, Andrew Meyerhofer, JoJo Nuez, Josh Rowley, Davin Sewell, Jonah Villalba, and Darrien Wingfield.

The Griffins were primed to show off what was built in a nine month offseason. This season gave the Griffins the great fortune to play all home games at Los Alamitos High School. They were grateful to play the six game schedule in this crazy season. They opened the season against a confident Long Beach Millikan team.  After a few early mistakes and turnovers, the Griffins focus up and show off. Shain Allen shines with a pick six on a fake punt by the rams. A 9.1 yard per play effort on offense leads to five touchdowns, with a defensive touchdown, two special teams touchdowns, and a 43 yard field goal. The Griffins send the Rams home with a 59-0 victory. The wait for this teams season was over, but the true show was coming the next week when the defending Division II State Champions, Corona Del Mar Sea Kings visited Los Al.

Corona Del Mar enters this game with an impressive win streak and a league record that had not recorded a loss since 2011. Two early turnovers by the Griffins give the Sea Kings a 14-0 lead. Looking for a spark, Los Al runs an end around pass from Makai Lemon to Alec Wills for a 48 yard touchdown on the ensuing drive. After a quick three and out the Griffins earned an equalizer with a 34 yard touchdown pass from Malachi Nelson to Makai Lemon, tying the game at 14-14. On the following drive CDM will drive down and take the lead back with a short passing touchdown, leading 21-14. With 40 seconds left in the half, Los Al will drive down with great discipline and kick a 40 yard field goal to close the gap 21-17 at half. Halftime was the calm before the storm. Los Al takes the lead with a pick six by Mason Burt on just the second play of the half. Los Al will miss the extra point, leading 23-21, but Brian Jurado will pull momentum back with an interception on the next CDM possession. Two plays later Gavin Porch scores from 50 yards out on a tailback screen. Los Al now leads 29-21 after another missed extra point. After the Griffins defense forced another 3 and out Los Al will score again on a 32 yard pass from Nelson to Wills. Making the extra point this time the griffins lead 36-21. Los Al keeps up the pressure forcing a safety with a Sinn Brennan sack in the endzone, Los Al 38-21. The Griffins don’t slow down and Brian Jurado scores on a 37 yard run, further extending the lead 45-21. The Sea Kings with another three and out will attempt a fake punt, which will be shut down by Adam Tomczyk giving Los Al great field position. Senior Shain Allen will score his first offensive touchdown of the season from 21 yards out, again pushing the Los Al lead to 52-21. Corona Del Mar will show some life with a long touchdown pass closing the gap to 52-21. The fourth quarter will see both teams slug it out, but the final will be Los Alamitos 52-21 following the 35-7 third quarter in favor of the Griffins. Los Al is now 2-0.

Los Alamitos has no time to rest, as the following week they host the 2-0 Edison Chargers. This historic Sunset League rivalry will live up to its name. The Griffins start the game with the ball, but turn it over on an early interception. Edison will drive down and a near interception turns into a tipped ball that is caught by a Charger receiver in the endzone. Los Al will block the ensuing PAT to keep the score to 6-0. On the first play of the next series, Makai Lemon shows his speed by catching a hook and taking off for an 80 yard touchdown. One play and the Griffins take the lead 7-6. The score holds until the second quarter in which Edison scores on a mid-range pass that goes for six, taking the lead 13-6 over Los Al. The Griffins get a spark from a 75 yard kickoff return by Darrien Wingfield. Three plays later Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon connected in the back corner of the endzone for six. Los Al leads 14-13. The Griffins forced a three and out and scored on the following drive with a 1 yard run by Gavin Porch. However, the PAT will be blocked, and LA leads 20-13 at halftime. In the third quarter Los Al will get two interceptions and come up with no points, and Edison will start the fourth quarter picking off Los Al and evening the score on the following drive. Both teams tied at 20-20. Los Al doesn’t slow down though. Makai Lemon will take a long pass down to the red zone and catch another touchdown two plays later. With the score 27-20 in favor of Los Al, Edison gets the last chance to score. But, the Griffins won’t break with sacks by Tyler DeLeon and Lane Broderick; the final score will stay at 27-20. Los Al advancing to 3-0 and taking control of the sunset league.

The Griffins will head for their first away game to meet the Huntington Beach Oilers, who were 2-1 losing their last game to Corona Del Mar. Los Al scores early and often featuring scores on offense by Gavin Porch, Nick Kelly, Alec Wills, Makai Lemon, and Shain Allen. Adding to the effort Jeremy Gutierrez scores picking up a fumble in the second quarter. Los Al enters halftime up 63-0 after Malachi Nelson went 13/13 for 376 yards and 7 touchdowns. Huntington will show some life scoring fourteen in the second half. The Griffins get to 4-0 with a 43-14 win over the Oilers.

Los Alamitos traveled again to meet the Fountain Valley Barons, who were winless at the time. The Griffins kept the previous momentum and scored 55 points in the first half, highlighted by interceptions by Jojo Nuez and Tyler DeLeon and punt returns for touchdowns by Makai Lemon and Lane Broderick. Fountain Valley will score and force a safety, but Los Al will score once more in the second half when Aidan Chiles hooks up with Gary Voigt pushing the score to 62-9. The Griffins continue their success, now 5-0 with a showdown with the Newport Harbor Sailors.

Los Al starts slow, but strikes first with a 67 yard touchdown by Makai Lemon, taking the lead over the Sailors 7-0. Los Al had another chance to score in the first, but a fumble ended that opportunity. Later in the second Los Al will drive down to the one yard line and Brian Jurado will punch it in, pushing the lead to 14-0. A Sailor three and out sets up Gavin Porch showing off his versatility with a 64 yard touchdown run down the sideline. Griffins lead 21-0. Just before the half Newport breaks the shutout with a field goal, making the score 21-3 at halftime. Opening scoring in the second half, Brian Jurado catches a short pass in the third and an aggressive run in the fourth, both for touchdowns pushing the score to 34-3. Capping off the season scoring, senior Shain Allen will catch a 37 yard touchdown pass from Malachi Nelson. The Griffins win 41-3.

Football was almost lost in California for the 2020 season because of a pandemic. This special team will take advantage of the shortened spring season and go 6-0 with an outright Sunset League Championship, the 23rd in school history. Los Al players will received many all-league selections, also finishing #10 in the state of California.

*Film to be added at a later date*