Football: Fullerton 21, Los Alamitos 7

The Sunset League may rule the Southern Section Southwest Division, but Los Alamitos isn’t part of the 2013 tide that rolled to the semifinals.

The Griffins, a week after winning their first playoff game since 2004 and seemingly in position to make a deep run into the playoffs, were upset Friday by Fullerton, the third-place team from the Freeway League.

The Griffins' 21-7 setback was hard to imagine, given Fullerton has spent the season with interim co-coaches in the wake of Julian Smilowitz’s firing and Los Alamitos is coached by local legend John Barnes, who has more than 300 career wins.

With a week left in the regular season, Los Alamitos was ranked third in the Southwest Division. 

But that's why they play the game, and Fullerton played it better, taking advantage of a myriad of Griffin turnovers.

Fullerton is the only team from outside the Sunset League to reach the semifinals. The Indians will play Newport Harbor, a 49-48 winner over top-seeded La Habra, the Freeway League champion. In the other semifinal, Edison will play Huntington Beach.

Score: Fullerton 21, Los Alamitos 7

Key Stats: Fullerton's Scott Lloyd rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown, and passed for 68 yards and another touchdown.

Pivotal Moment: Fullerton forced four turnovers in the third quarter, converting them into two touchdowns and a 21-0 lead.  

Quotable: “They outplayed us every way possible,” Los Alamitos coach John Barnes told the Orange County Register.

Records: Fullerton (10-2), Los Alamitos (9-3)

Notes: Los Alamitos suffered when quarterback Nick Wendell was lost to a shoulder injury in the second quarter. ...  Los Alamitos' offense was limited to 37 yards passing, 97 yards rushing. ... Lloyd tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Matt Hall midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. … Lloyd rushed for a 14-0 lead from 1 yard with 4:25 left in the third quarter. … A bit more than two minutes later, Damani Roberts scored on a 30-yard run. … Mike Hayden scored for Los Alamitos on a 1-yard score with 9:55 left in the game. ... This was only the third time the Griffins defense allowed more than 14 points, though two scoring drives by Fullerton in the third quarter, by virtue of turnovers, covered only 41 and 31 yards. 

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

SECOND ROUND

Top bracket

Newport Harbor 49, La Habra 48

Fullerton 21, Los Alamitos 7   

Bottom bracket

Edison 10, Villa Park 0

Huntington Beach 42, San Juan Hills 12