Esperanza Gets the Best of Los Alamitos Again

Los Alamitos had the talent and the motive to knock off Esperanza in the Sunset League opener for both. But it was Esperanza that got the results.

The temptation is to call the Aztecs’ 24-20 victory against the Griffins, before an estimated 8,000 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, an upset since Los Alamitos was ranked second in Orange County and Esperanza third.

But records and rankings usually mean little in this rivalry--only the final score does.

And for the second year in a row, Esperanza (5-1, 1-0) claimed a four-point victory against Los Alamitos (5-1, 0-1).

Last year the Aztecs knocked the Griffins out of the nation’s No. 1 ranking with a 21-17 victory. But this victory might even have been sweeter.

“This one was definitely better,” said Esperanza running back Jamaal Footman, who ran for 197 yards in 35 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the game winner from 10 yards out with four minutes left.

“Tonight we had several people playing their first varsity league game, and they did a great job. The offensive line was fantastic; they did their best blocking of the season.”

“Any time you can beat Los Alamitos you have to feel good, because they’re one of the great programs,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said.

All night, the Los Alamitos defense, determined to shut off the Aztecs’ passing game, dared Esperanza to run the ball. And the Aztecs, in particular Footman, readily complied from the second quarter on.

“We wanted them to run. But they did it better than we expected,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said.