LOS ALAMITOS — In an unconventional season with no postseason to play for, Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton considers his Griffins’ regular-season games to be playoff games.
And the way the fourth quarter of the Sunset League contest between rivals Los Alamitos and Edison played out Friday night at Los Alamitos High, the longtime time coach might be right.
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Edison defensive back Nico Brown makes intercepts a pass meant for Los Alamitos’ Alec Willis in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison wide receiver Nico Brown breaks away from Los Alamitos defenders in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison cornerback Troy Fletcher and Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon battle for a pass in the fourth quarter. The play was called an interception in favor of Edison in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon breaks away from Edison cornerback Dane Despars to score a touchdown in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison cheerleader Jayden Kaatmann shows her face paint before Friday night’s game against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon tries to fend off Edison defensive tackle Jeremy Alcorn in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos running back Gavin Porch makes a gain before running into two Edison defensive backs in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison wide receiver Nico Brown crosses the goal line for a touchdown against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison cornerback Nico Brown, left, celebrates after intercepting a pass against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos wide receiver Darrien Wingfield breaks away for a large gain against Edison in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison quarterback Braeden Boyles is brought down after a short gain against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison wide receiver Nico Brown recovers after being hit by two Los Alamitos players, Brown went on to score a touchdown in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison cheerleader Kylie Iwanaga is lifted high before Friday night’s game against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison wide receiver Nico Brown, right, hauls in a pass in the endzone against Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Edison running back Mateo Liau is brought down after a gain by Los Alamitos in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon tries to break away from Edison defender Tyler Gioia in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
The score was tied with under five minutes remaining when Los Alamitos quarterback Malachi Nelson connected with Makai Lemon for a 7-yard touchdown pass, giving the Griffins a 27-20 lead.
That 27-20 lead became the final score when the Griffins (3-0, 2-0) stopped the Chargers (2-1, 1-1) on the ensuing drive.
After defeating Edison and Corona del Mar last week, the Griffins have a good chance to win the league title with three games remaining.
“We’re in the playoffs,” Fenton said. “To come off a huge win against CdM last week … you try to have that maturity where you try to have back-to-back wins and that’s what we did.”
Los Alamitos was ahead 20-13 midway through the fourth quarter and had possession, but an interception gave the Chargers the ball on their own 19-yard line with 10:19 remaining.
Quarterback Braeden Boyles led a superb drive, which he capped with a game-tying, 19-yard touchdown pass to Nico Brown.
The Griffins took over on their 20 with 6:33 remaining and needed only four plays to take the lead for good on Nelson’s scoring pass to Lemon.
The touchdown was set up by 74-yard reception by Lemon two players earlier.
Lemon finished with eight receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
On the Chargers’ final drive, Tyler DeLeon and Jojo Nunez converged on Boyles and sacked him for a 10-yard loss.
The Chargers got only one more play off before time ran out.
“Our kids finally got used to playing at his speed and we just kept squeezing and squeezing it and we were fortunate enough to pull him down,” Fenton said of the sack. “(Boyles) is a creator. If it’s not there, he is going to figure out a way to escape and he was doing it all night long.”
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