High School

Los Alamitos beats San Clemente in California high school football CIF SS Division 2 playoffs: Live updates recap

For second week in a row, the Griffins overcome early 10-0 deficit to post win; 1st title since 2002 for Los Al

Cody Thorn

San Clemente offensive lineman Ben McNamara blocks during a 2024 game. San Clemente is playing in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals on Nov. 29.
San Clemente offensive lineman Ben McNamara blocks during a 2024 game. San Clemente is playing in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals on Nov. 29. / Joe Duncan

San Clemente and Los Alamitos will meet for the second time this season. 

However, this matchup has a lot more on the line than the first meeting on October 24, which the San Clemente Tritons won 28-9.

The two will play at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, for a state title.

Los Al enters this game with an 11-2 mark, with the losses coming in consecutive games. After falling to San Clemente, Mission Viejo blasted the Griffins, 76-49, the following week.

Los Alamitos' path was a 35-28 win over Yorba Linda in the first round, a 35-10 win over No. 4-ranked San Juan Hills last week and then a come-from-behind-win last week over No. 1-ranked Marietta Valley, 23-10.

The Grifins trailed 10-0 in that game.

The San Clemente Tritons are 9-4 overall and have won 5 in a row to reach the finals.

The playoff run included wins over Beaumont, Vista Murrieta and Lawndale Leuzinger — giving up only 7 points in each of the last two games.

RELATED: CIF Southern Section football championship schedule, previews, top players

What to know?

Los Alamitos is in the final for the first time since 2004, a game the Griffins lost to Long Beach Poly and future NFL standout DeSean Jackson.

The Griffins have won four state championships, including three in a row in 1991 (Division 3), 1992 and 1993 (Division 2) and 2002 (Division 1), against Mater Dei. This will be Los Al’s 10th trip to finals. Along with the 2004 runner-up finish, the Griffins were second in 1969, 1977, 1987 and 1988.

San Clemente won its first and only title in 2016, a 22-17 win over Del Oro. 

Who to know? 

This game will have several Division I commits. Here’s a breakdown of who may stand out on Saturday night:

Los Alamitos 

RB/LB Lenny Ibarra, sr. — He’s an Army pledge. Ibarra has been the go-to back for the Griffins. 

TE/K Beckham Hofland, sr. — The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is a Boise State pledge.

QB Colin Creason, sr. — He’s a transfer from Long Beach Poly, who had to sit last year. 

WR Kamden Tillis, jr. — 5-foot-10 target holds 4 Division I offers. Will take part in the Navy National Combine in San Antonio in early 2026. 

LB Hunter Eligon, jr. — He’s picked up offers from Hawaii and Northern Arizona, while recently taking a game-day visit to Arizona. 

San Clemente

RB Carson Sloan, sr. — He’s the Tritons' leading rusher with 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns. He took a screen pass 55 yards for a touchdown in the semifinal win. 

LB Patrick Norman, sr. — With 103 tackles, he’s pacing the team. He also has 5 TFL, 4 1/2 sacks, and a fumble recovery for the year.

QB Patrick Beck, so. — He improved to 6-0 as a starter with last week’s win. He has 1,270 yards and 11 touchdowns in 8 games.

WR/DB Jaxson Rex, jr. — He has scored 10 touchdowns and 789 yards receiving, leading the team in both categories. His best game this year? It was Week 9, with a stat line of 8/107/3 against Los Alamitos. Rex has had pick-6s in each of the past two games.

WR/DB Thomas Alexander, sr. — He’s been hot lately with 11 catches for 253 yards and 5 TDs in 3 games. He’s also had a fumble recovery and a pick-6 while on defense. 

TE Shane Kiley, sr. — His 6 TDs this year put him second on the team, while he has averaged 11.8 yards per catch. The 6-foot-4 target has offers from Arkansas State, Utah State and Utah Tech. 

Pick 'Em Challenge

Tell us who you think will win the game with High School On SI's Pick 'Em Challenge

How to watch

Watch on NFHS 

San Clemente vs. Los Alamitos: Live updates from California high school football CIF SS Division 2  title game

Refresh for the latest update.

LIVE UPDATES

Los Al gets the ball first

Punt. San Clemente ball with 10:35 left

Rex with a big catch near the sideline and first down for San Clemente

Big play! Beck to Shane Kiley. Ball is at the 8-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! Colin Granite with 8-yard run. 7:59. PAT is good. San Clemente 7, Los Al 0

Big play. Tillis with a 31-yard run to get into SC territory

Creason to Hoflund. Close to a first down. 4th and 1 at the 22

Ibarra with the carry. it will be close

2-yard gain

Next play a pass to Ibarra. He fumbles at the 2. Hit by Rex. I didn't see who got it. 5:55

3rd and short for SC; offensive line jumps early. Ball now at the 35

Kiley almost hauled in 2nd big passing play but the ball falls to the turf. Punt coming up

Los Al ball with 2:17 left

TURNOVER! Rex jumps route on pass Hoflund and gets it. He runs it ball to the at the 7-yard line. 2:11 left

Sloan down to the 2

FIELD GOAL! Ethan Miller with make with 29 seconds left. Turnover turns into some points. San Clemente 10, Los Al 0

End of 1st: San Clemente 10, Los Alamitos 0

2nd quarter

Creason to Tillis for 37 yards. Ball at the SC 18-yard line

Creason with RPO and Rex is there. He's all over the place.

Los Al going for field goal

10:03 left and SC calls a timeout. Hofland is 1-for-5 on FG this year

FIELD GOAL! 29 yard kick is good with 10:01. San Clemente 10, Los Al 3

Sloan with a couple of big runs. 6 yards on last run and it's a first down at Los Al's 42-yard line

Rex with a 12-yard gain that included a hurdle of a Los Al defender ... and he's flagged for it. Personal foul on Rex for the hurdle.

Beck to Rex for 20 yard gain; ball deep in Los Al territory

Pass interference on Los Al. Ball is at the 5-yard line

TOUCHDOWN! Colin Granite with TD run from 2 yards out. 6:25 left. PAT is good. San Clemente 17, Los Al 3

Fumble on the kickoff but Los Al recovers it. 6:24 left.

Creason to Ibarra for positive yards after he eluded a would-be-tackler

TOUCHDOWN! Tillis with a 31-yard TD run with 4:44 left. San Clementine 17, Los Al 10

San Clemente punts and Los Al gets the ball with 2:41 left

Creason to Ashton Gogue for 9 yards.

Creason to Hofland and the ball is at the 50. San Clemente calls timeout with 1:54 left

TOUCHDOWN! Creason to Hofland for 29 yards. 40 seconds left. Los Al 17, San Clemente 17

HALFTIME. Los Al 17, San Clemente 17

3rd quarter

Beck to Kiley for a 32-yard gain. The ball is at the 12-yard line. Quick strike for the Tritons

FIELD GOAL! Miller hits a 34-yard kick with 7:31 left. San Clemente 20, Los Al 17

Ibarra with a long run and broke about 7 tackles. 35-yard run and the ball on the SC side of the fied

TOUCHDOWN! Big man touchdown by Guard Luke Wehner with an unconventional 3-yard fumble return for a score. Option pitch; ball fumbled; looks like it was kicked, maybe. Anyway. Ball bounced and No. 53 picked it up and scored. Los Al 24, San Clemente 20

TURNOVER! Beck wents to pass. The ball gets knocked out of his hands, bounces off a couple players, maybe event a helmet and Los Al gets the ball back.

TOUCHDOWN! Tillis with a 30-yard run with 4 minutes to go and the Griffins have its largest lead. Los Al 30, San Clemente 20. PAT is blocked

End of 3rd: Los Al 30, San Clemente 20

Los Al punts its and the ball will roll forever. Ball is at the 1-1yard line. 11:44 left in the game. 65-yard punt

TURNOVER! Lenny Ibarra with a pick for the Griffins with 9:06 left. Steps in front of Rex and the ball is at the 34-yard line of SC

Timeout with 6:43 left in the game

The Griffins concert on a first down pass by Creason. QB is 13-for-13 since his 1st quarter pick

FIELD GOAL! Hofland with FG on 4th and goal from the 4. 4:46 left. Los Al 33, San Clemente 20

Long return by Damian Martinez. Ball at the 4-yard line

Flag on the play

blindside block on return and the Tritons are backed up. 4:30 to play

Interception! Koa Marasco gets a bobble from San Clemente. A likely first down completion but when Kiley turns to go up field the ball gets knocked out and Marasco pick it up. 3:31 to play

That should do it as San Clemente is out of timeouts.

Los Al will win CIF Southern Section D2 title; first title since 2002

Final: Los Alamitos 33, San Clemente 20

RECAP

For the second week in a row, a 10-0 deficit turned out to be a good thing for Los Alamitos.

The Griffons fell behind early, but forged a tie at hafltime. The Tritons took the lead again, but two quick touchdowns helped Los Al rally.

Creason was 15 for 21 passing for 179 yards and a TD for Los. Tillis ran 14 times for 130 yard and scored 3 touchdowns and added 53 yards receiving. Ibarra had 15 totes for 99 yards.

Hofland, who was 1-for-5 on field goals coming into the game, hit 2 in the win.

Published |Modified
Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

Home/California