Malachi Nelson Makes History as Los Alamitos Takes Down Huntington Beach (2021)

Huntington Beach – ‘Cap’ Sheue Field

The Griffins offense continued where they left off last week, as Malachi Nelson and company took down the Oilers, putting up seven scores along the way.

Los Alamitos put on an impressive display scoring through the ground and the air three times a piece, and getting a defensive score as well.

It was a chippy first two drive for Los Alamitos, whose special teams unit was tested on kickoff when Huntington attempted an onside kick and recovered the football just a yard too early to not be flagged.

From there the Oilers bailed out the Griffins on a couple of occasions via a facemask and a roughing the passer call that reset the downs for Los Al. Their dynamic offense took advantage, when Malachi Nelson found Makai Lemon for the game’s first score. The 13-yard TD tied Malachi Nelson with Kevin Feterick for the Griffins all-time passing TD record at 58 total TDs.

A turnover on downs on the Griffins next drive primarily due to a low snap that lost them 13-yards on third down, had the Oilers poised for a response. However, it was Makai Lemon once again making an impact this time on defense, as he prevented the Oilers QB AJ Perez from converting on a 4th-and-1 rush.

The momentum from this point shifted toward Los Al who would pick up three rushing TD’s on their next three drives. The first came from Nygel Osborne who ripped off a long 29-yard TD rush, then Deandre Moore came off tackle to run in for a short 7-yard score, before Osborne found the endzone for the second time on a 12-yard carry.

Nelson would eventually go on to break the Griffins all-time passing record in the second quarter when he hit Lemon for a second time to extend the Griffins lead to 35-0. It was a 61-yard score on a 10-yard pass that Lemon took 51 yards to the house. His final statline was 11/17 230 yards, with three passing TDs.

An historic outing may have overshadowed it, but it was a special performance for Nygel Osborne, who celebrated his 17th birthday Friday with a two TD 115-yard game.

The entirety of the Boomer Sooners were on full display, as Deandre Moore picked up a rushing TD, while Makai Lemon was lights out on both sides of the football, finishing with three receiving touchdowns and two interceptions. Lemon also had a team high six receptions and 111 yards.

AJ Perez and the Oilers offense had its moments putting up two TDs, but were playing from behind all night long. Some early turnover on downs as well as an interception kept the game from ever being close.

The two TD’s were hauled in by Jordan Castro and Tyler Moses, both going for 25-yards or more. Castro, a former Griffin, caught the hanging pass in the endzone just before the end of quarter number two.

Malachi Nelson would come in for a single play in the second half, as he and Makai Lemon hooked up one final time for a 23-yard TD pass. From then on it was Husan Longstreet in at quarterback for Los Alamitos.

The Griffins would score once more, this time on the defensive side when Isaiah Dorsey intercepted a wayward pass by AJ Perez and took it 50-yards uncontested into the endzone.

Tyler Moses’s 80-yard touchdown was the final bit of action for either team. Both of the Oilers scores hit big, following blown coverages by the Griffins secondary.

Los Alamitos improved to (8-1) overall, and stayed undefeated in the Sunset League heading into their final regular season game against Newport Harbour on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. For the Huntington Beach Oilers they fall to (4-5) overall, and (1-3) across the Sunset League. They’ll try to finish their season .500 next Friday, as they take on another electric offense in Edison.