GAME RECAP AND TOP PHOTOS: Ibarra, Griffins Take Revenge In San Clemente and Bring Back The Title For The First Time Since 2002

By Justin Tatsuki Lee

Saturday November 29, 2025

Game: CIF-SS Ford Div 2 Championship Game: Los Alamitos vs San Clemente

San Clemente, CA — In front of a packed, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd of more than 5,000, the CIF Southern Section showdown between Ray Fenton’s Los Alamitos Griffins and Jaime Ortiz’s San Clemente Tritons delivered every bit of tension, physicality, and narrative weight you’d expect from two programs meeting for the second time this season.

Back in September, San Clemente snapped Los Alamitos’ eight-game win streak with a decisive 28–9 win at this same venue. On Friday night, the Griffins returned to Thalassa Stadium with revenge on their mind — and after falling behind 17–3, they unleashed a dominant 30–3 run to capture their first CIF title since 2002.

First Quarter — Early Fireworks for San Clemente

Los Alamitos received the opening kickoff, but the Griffins sputtered out of the gate, going three-and-out and punting from deep in their own territory.

San Clemente immediately showcased a well-scripted opening drive. Quarterback Preston Beck connected with star wideout Jaxson Rex (14) on a chain-moving grab, then hit tight end Shane Kiley (2) to set up goal-to-go. Running back Colin Granite (22) capped the march with a 10-yard touchdown run, putting the Tritons up 7–0 with 7:59 left in the first.

Los Alamitos mounted a strong answer, converting a fourth-and-1 on a power push by Lenny Ibarra, but as the Griffins neared the goal line, Ibarra had the ball poked out and recovered by Thomas Alexander (17) at the Triton 5 — a massive early momentum swing.

The Griffins appeared rattled. On their next possession, Creason’s first throw was intercepted by Rex and returned to the Los Al 7. San Clemente couldn’t punch it in, but Jesse Torres (15) drilled a 20-yard field goal to make it 10–0 Tritons.

Second Quarter — The Griffins Regroup and Strike Back

Los Alamitos finally found traction to close the first quarter and start the second. Kamden Tillis (8) hauled in a clutch catch inside the SC 20, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Beckham Hofland (84) to make it 10–3.

San Clemente responded with an impressive drive of their own. Rex broke loose for another slippery 15-yard gain, and an interference call set up Granite’s second touchdown of the night — a bruising 3-yard plunge to extend the lead to 17–3.

The Griffins needed a spark and found it immediately. Creason orchestrated a shifty, tempo-heavy drive highlighted by Ibarra on a screen and his own scrambles. Tillis then slashed through the Triton secondary for a dynamic 20+ yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17–10.

Los Alamitos got the ball back with 2:41 left and went to work. Hofland came up huge twice — first on a sideline grab across midfield, then hauling in a 25-yard touchdown down the right hash with 39 seconds remaining.

Just like that, the Griffins erased the early damage and tied the game heading into halftime.

Halftime: Los Alamitos 17, San Clemente 17

Third Quarter — A Wild, Momentum-Swinging 12 Minutes

San Clemente opened the second half with a promising march, highlighted by a big catch from Kiley. But a 14-yard sack by Johnny Howe (44) derailed the series, and Torres booted a 35-yard field goal to reclaim a 20–17 lead.

Los Alamitos answered with one of the strangest touchdowns of the night. Ibarra ripped off a long run into the Triton red zone, was hit and lost the ball — only for guard Luke Wehner (53) to scoop the fumble and rumble into the end zone for a big-man touchdown, flipping the game to 24–20 Los Al with 5:50 left in the third.

San Clemente’s trouble deepened on the next drive when Beck was strip-sacked, giving the Griffins the ball at the SC 35. Two plays later, Tillis burst through the defense for a 17-yard touchdown. The PAT doinked off the right upright, but Los Alamitos had seized control at 30–20.

The Tritons attempted to respond, but repeated sacks from the Los Al front — including another from Renger — forced a punt to end the quarter.

End of Q3: Los Alamitos 30, San Clemente 20

Fourth Quarter — Defense Slams the Door, Griffins Capture the Crown

San Clemente kept the fight alive early in the fourth, with Kiley converting a huge third-and-13. But the Griffins defense answered with another game-changing play: Lenny Ibarra jumped a Beck throw near midfield for a momentum-killing interception.

Tillis again delivered in crunch time, taking a punishing hit while converting a third-and-9 to set up a short field goal. Hofland connected from 19 yards to extend the lead to 33–20 with under five minutes to play.

San Clemente’s last hope was dashed when a long Dallas Martinez return was wiped out by a blindside block. Soon after, Koa Marasco secured a juggling interception, giving Los Al full control.

From there, Ibarra and the Griffins offense drained the final minutes, with the clock hitting zero on a long-awaited championship moment.

For the first time since 2002, the Los Alamitos Griffins are CIF Southern Section champions — completing a season-long arc of redemption on the same field where their early-season hopes were once derailed. They will move on to the CIF Regionals with a chance to score a state championship title in December.