The Griffins jump-started the fall sports season with impressive wins in football and girls volleyball.
The Griffin footballers, who enter the season at No. 6 in the MaxPreps state rankings, had to wait a bit to start their season due to the late arrival of the Bakersfield Driller caravan of buses (traffic going through LA, go figure) but the late start did not hurt the Griffin point production as the team romped to a 65-18 victory over the visitors Friday at Los Alamitos High.
Brian Jurado rushed for the first touchdown of the game and St. John Bosco transfer Kevin Longstreet had a kick return for a touchdown. Oklahoma-bound quarterback Malachi Nelson threw four touchdown passes (but also a pair of interceptions) for the Griffins including an 80-yarder to Alec Wills.
The Griffins, ranked No. 3 in the OC Register’s preseason Top 25 poll, will host Lincoln of San Diego on Friday, Aug. 27.
Overlooked earlier in the week were the OC Register veteran prep reporter Dan Albano’s Sunset League predictions which (no surprise) have Los Al, Edison and Corona Del mar at the top of the lists.
After more than a year off due to Covid-19, the Los Al Girls volleyball team has started its season with four wins against a tie and a loss..
The Griffins started the season on August 14 with two pool play matches in the Lakewood Tournament. The Griffins swept Valley Christian 3-0, then fell to a tough Harvard-Westlake squad (25-12, 19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-10) and took second in their pool.
Then during the week the Lady Griffins turned in a pair of sweeps over Long Beach schools. On Wednesday, the Griffins downed Woodrow Wilson (25-12, 25-21, 25-16). They were led by Senior Olivia (Liv) Panzica with 9 kills, while Sydney May recorded 13 assists and 6 Aces.
On Friday afternoon, the notched its second broom, this time over Millikan (25-19, 25-23, 25-22). Panzica again led Los Al with 13 kills. Kaia Herweg added 8 for the Griffins.
The Griffins returned to the consolation knock-out rounds of the Lakewood Tournament Saturday, defeating Rancho Cucamonga 3-1 in the morning round of 16, but falling to host Lakewood 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Redondo Union defeated Harvard-Westlake in the championship match.
The Griffins return to action Thursday, with a road match at San Clemente.
