Los Alamitos High was a Sunset League at-large entry into the CIF-SS Southwest Division football playoffs. Foothill entered as champion of the Century League, and the Knights were the hosts when the teams squared off Friday in the first round at Tustin High.

Well, if Foothill was favored to emerge victorious, someone forgot to tell the Griffins because they routed the Knights 42-0 to advance to next week’s second round against either Fullerton or Placentia Valencia. It was the first playoff victory for Los Alamitos since 2004.

Even Los Alamitos coach John Barnes admitted some surprise at the lopsided nature of the game.

“Yeah, a complete game,” said Barnes, when asked if it was the best game his team has played this season. “And against a league champion. I’m shocked. We knew we had to start fast, and we did. Nick Wendell played the game of his life tonight.”

Wendell, the Griffins’ senior quarterback, completed 12 of 19 passes and touchdown passes of 13 yards to Kendall Brownlow in the first quarter, 75 yards to Brownlow at the outset of the third and 11 yards to Joe Wysocki late in the third. Wendell threw one meaningless interception.

“Well, it means a lot coming from coach Barnes,” Wendell said of Barnes’ comment. “He said, before I got out here, ‘No regrets, baby, no regrets. Just go out there and win it.’ And that’s what I did.”

Again, it was a complete effort. The defense held the Knights (8-3) to 87 total yards — 42 passing, 45 rushing. Junior linebacker Blake Johnson made one terrific tackle after another. It almost seemed like he was in on every play.

“All I know is every time I looked up, he was making a play,” Barnes said.

Johnson was all smiles afterward.

“Personally, it’s one of the best ones I’ve played all year; I can’t say it’s the best one,” said Johnson, who was asked if it was his best game. “I came out thinking, ‘We’ve just gotta play our hearts out tonight, break the curse.’ We’ve had that firstround playoff curse for a while. And I don’t know, it just feels amazing to beat it.”

Brownlow had four catches for 133 yards, Dashawn Gordon caught five passes — one of them one-handed — for 76 yards.

Bic back Mike Hayden added a pair of short TD runs for Los Alamitos.