Murrieta Valley Grounds Los Alamitos 49-28 in CIF-SS Quarterfinal Showdown (2024)

Long Beach – Veterans Stadium

The Los Alamitos Griffins’ playoff hopes were defeated Friday night in a 49-28 loss to one-seed Murrieta Valley in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. Despite the Nighthawks’ overwhelming ground attack and early lead, the Griffins showed resilience, led by standout performances in the passing game.

Murrieta Valley (10-2) wasted no time establishing their dominance, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier connecting with Julian Treadwell for a 49-yard touchdown on just the third play of the game. Bachmeier clocked in for 255 yards and three touchdowns, while the Nighthawks piled up 336 rushing yards to control the clock and the scoreboard.

The Griffins (6-6) answered back with quarterback Alonzo Esparza hitting Lenny Ibarra for a 40-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter. Esparza threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns, completing 20 of 32 passes, battling through constant pressure. “They dropped eight guys in coverage and rushed three,” Coach Ray Fenton said. “I thought Alonzo did a great job of being patient and finding guys back there.”

Ibarra hauled in three catches for 97 yards, including another 41-yard touchdown late in the first half to cut the Nighthawks’ lead to 28-14. Tight end Beckham Hofland impressed the night with six receptions for 78 yards, displaying why he’s considered one of the top tight end prospects in the country. “The tight end coach from Texas Tech said they consider him a top-two tight end in the country,” Fenton noted.

Even with their passing success, the Griffins struggled on the ground, managing just 82 rushing yards. Murrieta Valley’s defense, prepared and athletic, made running lanes minimal while forcing Esparza to work for every yard through the air.

“Our kids played hard,” Fenton said. “They played well on both sides of the ball, but that’s a really good football team we went up against. There’s a reason they’re the No. 1 seed.”

The loss meant the end of a challenging yet promising season for Los Alamitos. With key players like Hofland set to return, the Griffins will aim to build on their experience and come back stronger next year.