SAN CLEMENTE — Los Alamitos turned a first-half deficit into a thrilling 33-20 victory over Alpha League rival San Clemente on Saturday night, completing a dramatic comeback to capture the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship. The Griffins trailed 17-3 early but stormed back, outscoring the Tritons 30-3 in the second half behind a balanced offensive attack and a defense that clamped down when it mattered most.
Junior running back Kamden Tillis led the charge with a standout performance. He rushed for 130 yards on 14 carries, scored three touchdowns, and added 53 receiving yards on two catches. Tillis’ third touchdown — a bruising red-zone run late in the fourth quarter — put Los Alamitos ahead by two scores and effectively sealed the win.Senior running back Lenny Ibarra, an Army commit, contributed 99 rushing yards on 15 carries and also grabbed an interception, keeping drives alive and controlling the clock in the fourth quarter.Overall, the Griffins racked up over 250 rushing yards for the game, showing patience and power running behind their offensive line.
Senior quarterback Colin Creason completed 15 of 21 passes for 179 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. His TD strike to tight end Beckham Hofland in the second quarter tied the game at 17-17, turning the momentum firmly toward Los Alamitos. Hofland also served as the team’s kicker, connecting on two field goals and four PATs, adding crucial points to complement the team’s offensive output.
After allowing 17 points in the first half, the Los Alamitos defense completely turned the tide, surrendering only a single second-half field goal. Key plays included:
- Pick-six by Ernest Jones IV, who jumped a Brosmer pass and returned it 85 yards to give the Griffins their first lead.
- Interceptions by Lenny Ibarra and junior linebacker Koa Marasco, stopping critical Triton drives.
- Several sacks and third-down stops that stalled San Clemente’s offense in the second half.
The defense’s ability to create turnovers and limit explosive plays allowed Los Alamitos to steadily climb back into the game.
Los Alamitos (12-2) will host San Diego Cathedral Catholic (10-2) in the CIF SoCal Regional Division 1-AA game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The winner advances to face either Archbishop Riordan (12-0) or Folsom (12-1) in the CIF State Division 1-AA championship. With a balanced attack featuring strong running, smart quarterback play, and a defense that can make game-changing plays, the Griffins have built momentum that could carry deep into the state playoffs.
