Griffins
Season preview by Howard Croom
season preview
Head Coach: Ray Fenton
The 2022 season will mark the seventh season that Head Coach Ray Fenton has led the Griffins of Los Alamitos High School. Coach Fenton has served as a Head Football Coach for 26 seasons at six different high schools in three different states. In 2007 Coach Fenton won a CIF Southern Section Championship with his Alma Mater Cypress High School. It was the first CIF Football championship in the history of the school. In his stellar career as a Head Coach, now in its fourth decade, Coach Fenton has garnered many accolades, among them being named the California State Football Coach of the Year.
Coaching Staff:
- Michael Cobleigh Safeties/Co-Defensive Coordinator
- T.J. Fenton Offensive Coordinator
- John Eyman Linebackers/Co-Defensive Coordinator
- Greg Russell Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
- Bruce Bible Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach
- Danny Hernandez Quarterbacks
- Demar Bowe Wide Receivers
- Lou Porch Running Backs
- Greg Snyder Offensive Line
- Steve Mao Offensive Line
- Steve Samela Defensive Backs
- Matt Nunez Tight Ends
- Kiano Misa Defensive Line
Key Departures:
- Adam Tomczyk (Defensive Line) Utah State University
- Cash Koepke (Offensive Line) Northern Arizona University
- Brian Jurado (Linebacker & Running Back)
- David Main (Offensive Line) University of California Davis
- Robert Hamilton (Offensive Line & Defensive Line) Cerritos College
- Alec Wills (Wide Receiver & Defensive Back) University of Pennsylvania
- Zeph Misa (Defensive Line)
- Deandre Moore (Wide Receiver & Defensive Back) transfer - St. John Bosco High School
- Nygel Osborne (Running Back) transfer - Millikan High School
- Kevin Longstreet Senior (Defensive Back) transfer - Inglewood High School
Key Returners:
- Malachi Nelson senior (Quarterback)
- Makai Lemon senior (Wide Receiver)
- Gavin Porch senior (Wide Receiver/Running Back & Defensive Back)
- Ethan O’Connor senior (Cornerback & Wide Receiver)
- Alfonzo Leomiti senior (Offensive Line)
- Sinn Brennan senior (Full Back & Defensive Line)
- Isaiah Dorsey senior (Defensive Back)
- Kapono Mao sophomore (Offensive Line)
Key Additions & Impact Players:
- T.A. Cunningham Junior (Defensive Line)
- Damian Henderson Senior (Running Back)
- Vaka Hansen Senior (Defensive Line)
- Jayven Simbe Senior (Linebacker)
- Marcus Works Senior (Safety)
- Ryder Trujillo Senior (Offensive Line & Defensive Line)
- Sirr Bible Sophomore (Linebacker)
- Anthony League Sophomore (Linebacker)
- Rudy Montalvan Senior (Offensive Line)
- Kaleb McCutcheon Junior (Linebacker & Defensive Line)
Can’t Miss Game:
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 vs Basha High School of Chandler, Arizona Basha finished the 2021 campaign with a 10-1 record. They finished the season ranked #6 overall for the entire state of Arizona. MaxPreps currently has them ranked #67 in the country in their 2022 pre-season rankings. Basha has seven players on their 2022 roster who have Division I scholarship offers.Outlook:
The Griffins come off of a 2021 campaign that saw them win yet another Sunset League Championship. When the CIF divisions were announced for the 2021 playoffs, the Griffins landed in the Open Division, which is widely regarded as the best and most competitive division of high school Football in the entire United States of America. The Griffins have a tradition rich program that is only exceeded by the talent that they have on their 2022 roster. A team replete with talent on both sides of the ball combined with an explosive Special Teams unit, will make for a unique and special Football team that will be very entertaining to watch. The Griffins have the talent, skill and ability to win the Sunset League, as well as a CIF title.Offense:
The Los Alamitos offense is a high powered, precise machine that can quickly strike, leaving defensive units wondering what just happened. Last season they averaged 42 points a game, and it is likely that they will exceed that lofty number this season. USC bound Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon, the two time defending co-MVPs of the Sunset League, are back for their senior year. Nelson is of course the best high school Quarterback in the nation, and Lemon makes catches and has such remarkable route running skills that it makes him almost impossible to defend. Backing up Nelson at QB is freshman prodigy Jaden O’Neal. Gavin Porch, a four year Varsity starter and two time 1st Team All Sunset League selection gives Nelson an additional top notch receiver to throw to, as well as another skilled ball carrier as he also excels as a Running Back. Ethan O'Connor, who was a first team all league player himself last season, will also cause matchup problems for opposing defenses with his skill set, and ability to get open. Senior Kassius Ashtiani and freshman J’Myron Baker should also provide targets for Nelson. Look for Senior Running Back Damian Henderson to add additional power and options to the offense. When you combine these remarkable skill players with the Griffins talented Offensive Line, which is one of the best pass protecting and run blocking units in all of California, you can expect to see big numbers on the Griffin’s side of the scoreboard every game. Look for Kapono Mao and Alfonzo Leomiti, both 2nd team All Sunset League selections in 2021, to lead the Griffin’s offense towards the end zone often this season. Rudy Montalvan will bring additional physicality to this talented Offensive Line. If you are a fan of high tempo, fast paced, football, with future Division I collegiate stars and potential NFL players, Los Alamitos will be a team you definitely want to see play this season.Defense:
The Griffins are stacked on the defensive side of the ball. Moving the ball and scoring on the Los Alamitos defense is going to be quite the formidable task for opposing offenses this season. Isaiah Dorsey, the reigning Defensive Back of the Year for the Griffins will lead a skilled group of secondary defenders. Look for seniors Makai Lemon, Gavin Porch, Ethan O’Connor and freshman Jerrod Terry to secure a great secondary. A stout Linebacker group will consist of two gifted sophomores, Sirr Bible and Anthony League, as well as Kaleb McCutcheon. Junior CJ Berthon and Servite transfer Jayven Simbe will solidify this stellar group of Linebackers. These backers are equally skilled in pass coverage and run stopping, while being highly motivated to seek out whoever carries the ball on offense. Up front, the Griffins Defensive Line will be led by senior returning starter Sinn Brennan. Senior Ryder Trujillo, and freshman Noah Faupusa. T.A. Cunnigham, a Defensive Lineman who disrupts offenses on every play. Cunningham, a Junior, recently moved here from Georgia, is the number one rated Defensive Lineman in the country according to several recruiting sources and adds to a very strong front. He currently holds multiple offers from Division I schools in every conference imaginable. Look for the Griffin’s defense to have many takeaways this season, as well as put some points on the scoreboard too.Special Teams:
On Special Teams the Griffins will have Makai Lemon, Gavin Porch and Damian Henderson handling the kick off and punt return duties. All three have great speed and are capable of taking it to the house at any time. Kicker Chase McLachlan should have many opportunities to put points on the scoreboard, by way of the extra point, as the Griffins offense will be scoring a significant amount of touchdowns. On the rare occasion that the Griffins might need to punt, none other than Malachi Nelson will handle the punting duties. Of course, this gives Los Alamitos the option of running a fake punt to further bolster their already prolific offense. The inspirational story of Carson Fox, who battled, as well as beat cancer, and now is equipped with a prosthetic leg, will resume his role as the long snapper for the Griffins.Additional Information about the Los Alamitos High School Griffins Football Program:
Home Stadium: Cerritos College Game Broadcasts: Los Alamitos Sports Network spreaker.com/show/los-alamitos-sports-networks-show Play by Play Announcer: Kent Bickell Game Analyst: Justin Connolly Athletic Director: Richard Smith Principal: Christiana Kraus School Enrollment: 3,200
August 19th - 07:00 pm@ Garces Memorial High School
September 3rd - 07:14 am@ Boswell Field, Westminster High School
September 9th - 07:16 am@ Boswell Field, Westminster High School
September 16th - 07:16 am@ Boswell Field, Westminster High School
September 30th - 07:17 am@ Davidson Field, Newport Harbor High School
October 6th - 07:17 am@ Davidson Field, Newport Harbor High School
October 13th - 07:18 am@ Cap Sheue Field
October 21st - 07:18 am@ TBD
October 28th - 07:19 am@ Boswell Field, Westminster High School
