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Los Alamitos football flattened by Murrieta Valley in Division 2 quarterfinals

November 16, 2024

LOS ALAMITOS – The Los Alamitos football team was looking to add another nightmare chapter to MurrietaValley’s postseason story. But the Nighthawks, who finished second in CIF-SS Division 2 last season, served notice about 90 seconds into the game that it was their night to crush dreams.

The Nighthawks (10-2) rushed for 336 yards, and quarterback Bear Bachmeier accounted for 255 yardsand three touchdowns for a 49-28 victory over the Griffins on Friday in the Division 2 quarterfinals at Los Alamitos High.

“There was no turning point,” Griffins coach Ray Fenton said. “That’s a really good football team, and there’s a reason they’re the No. 1 seed.”

Bachmeier connected with Julian Treadwell for a 49-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game. TheGriffins (6-6) recovered from that punch a few minutes later when Alonzo Esparza hit Lenny Ibarra for a 40-yardtouchdown at the midway mark of the quarter.

Murrieta Valley responded by scoring on its next three possessions, the last when Bachmeier’s 1-yard TD rungave the Nighthawks a 28-7 lead with 3:32 left in the first half.

Esparza and Ibarra responded again, with Ibarra pulling in a 41-yard touchdown with 1:29 left in the half.

“Our kids played hard,” Fenton said. “They played well on both sides of the ball.”

Esparza passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns, but the Nighthawks made him work for every yard. Hecompleted 20 of 32 passes, but it was rarely easy.

“We wanted to keep it simple and play fast,” Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson said. “We have some reallytalented players in the secondary. We’ve played some good teams this year, and I think that prepared them forthis.”

The defensive scheme was fairly simple, Fenton said: Swarm the secondary with defenders and force Esparzaout of the pocket to try to find an open receiver somewhere.

“They dropped eight guys in coverage and rushed three, so there aren’t a lot of holes back there,” Fentonsaid. “I thought Alonzo did a great job of being patient and finding guys back there.”

Ibarra caught three balls for 97 yards and Tron Baker caught five balls for 87 yards. Tight end Beckham Hoflandshowed why he may be the primary target of opposing defenses next season, making several athletic catches enroute to six receptions for 78 yards.

“The tight end coach from Texas Tech said they consider him a top-two tight end in the country, which iswhy they’ve offered him a scholarship,” Fenton said of Hofland, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior.

Los Alamitos could not complement Esparza with a solid run game, as Murrieta Valley held the Griffins to 82yards on the ground.

Orange County Register

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Los Alamitos football flattened by Murrieta Valley in Division 2 quarterfinals

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