SAN CLEMENTE — For weeks, Los Alamitos had shown flashes of resilience. On Saturday night, the Griffins delivered their most complete comeback of the season — and they did it on the biggest stage. After falling behind 17–3 in the first half, Los Alamitos dominated the final two and a half quarters, outscoring San Clemente 30–3 on the way to a 33–20 victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship game. The win gave the Griffins their fourth CIF-SS title in program history and punched their ticket to the CIF State Regional playoffs.
San Clemente’s early energy built an unexpected two-score lead. The Tritons struck first through the air and added a field goal, then cashed in on a momentum-swinging turnover to build a 17–3 cushion. Los Alamitos responded with a crucial late-first-half scoring drive, capped by a short rushing touchdown by Kamden Tillis, trimming the deficit to 17–10 at the break.That run proved to be the spark the Griffins needed.
Junior running back Kamden Tillis delivered one of the best championship performances in program history, powering the Griffins’ comeback with 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries. He also added 53 receiving yards, proving to be the most dynamic player on the field. Tillis’s third touchdown—a hard-nosed red-zone run late in the fourth quarter—pushed Los Alamitos ahead by two scores and effectively sealed the win, capping off a dominant night from the standout junior.
Army commit Lenny Ibarra played a crucial role throughout the game, rushing for 99 yards on 15 carries and consistently keeping the chains moving when the Griffins needed it most. His physical running style helped wear down the San Clemente defense, especially in the fourth quarter as Los Alamitos worked to protect its lead. Ibarra also made a big contribution on defense, coming up with one of the team’s two interceptions in a performance that showcased his two-way value.
Senior quarterback Colin Creason showed poise and leadership during the comeback, completing 15 of 21 passes for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His most significant throw of the night came in the third quarter when he connected with tight end Beckham Hofland for a game-tying touchdown that evened the score at 17–17 and completely shifted the momentum. Creason kept the offense balanced and under control, guiding the Griffins through their strongest stretch of the game. Beckham Hofland’s impact went beyond his receiving ability as he contributed in multiple phases of the game. In addition to hauling in the touchdown pass from Creason, he finished with four catches for 56 yards and served as the Griffins’ kicker, knocking through two field goals and four PATs. His reliability on special teams proved essential during the comeback and ensured that Los Alamitos capitalized on nearly every scoring opportunity After giving up 17 points early, the Los Alamitos defense delivered a dominant second-half performance, holding San Clemente to just a single field goal the rest of the night. The unit stepped up with key plays throughout the comeback, including interceptions from Lenny Ibarra and junior linebacker Koa Marasco, along with multiple sacks and crucial third-down stops that stalled the Tritons’ drives. The biggest moment of the night came when Ernest Jones IV jumped a route and returned a Brosmer pass 85 yards for a pick-six, sending the Griffins’ sideline into a frenzy and giving the team its first lead of the game. From that point forward, Los Alamitos never looked back.
