No. 1 Los Alamitos Defeats Fountain Valley, 24-7

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The definitive moment of Friday night’s game between Los Alamitos and Fountain Valley came when time moved backward.

Officials noticed the scoreboard malfunction, taking about 30 seconds off the clock midway through the third quarter, but they could do little else to speed up the pace of a lengthy 24-7 victory by Los Alamitos, Orange County’s No. 1-ranked team.

The quarterbacks attempted 67 passes. The referees called 15 penalties. The game was also delayed more than 20 minutes in the second quarter because of an injury to Los Alamitos receiver Robert Griggs, who was taken off the field by an ambulance because of concern that he might have seriously injured his neck or back.

Griggs was treated and released from Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach.

Los Alamitos (2-0) struggled early against the Fountain Valley defense. Quarterback Tim Carey, considered one of the best passers in the county, completed passes for only one more yard than he ran for (27 to 26) in the Griffins’ first two series.

Fountain Valley (1-1) sacked Carey three times, intercepted him once and held him to 13 completions in 27 attempts for 166 yards. Griffin receivers also dropped at least five of Carey’s passes.

Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said Carey was switching plays at the line of scrimmage too often.

“It’s my fault,” Barnes said. “I put the game into his hand too much. I guarantee I’m taking it back.”

Fortunately for the Griffins, Carey didn’t have to drive the offense very far on their two touchdown drives. On the first, midway through the second quarter, Los Alamitos got the ball on the Fountain Valley 26-yard line after a short punt. On the first play, Carey completed a touchdown pass to Don Ruberio.

In the third quarter, Ruberio caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Carey, capping a 45-yard drive to give the Griffins a 17-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Joe Ortiz intercepted a pass by Fountain Valley quarterback Scott Bertoni and returned it 56 yards for the Griffins’ final touchdown.

Fountain Valley finally broke through with 1 minute five seconds remaining in the game, when Jeremy Nicholson completed a 79-yard drive with a one-yard dive.