Los Alamitos football team has grown as a group

Standing under 4 palm trees in the quad space of Calabasas High, Los Alamitos football gamers have their eyes skilled on coach Ray Fenton’s face for more than 5 uninterrupted minutes.

Looking to see if anybody loses focus when a mom walks by and begins yelling at her daughter, the reply is extremely no. The gamers keep listening and keep their eyes directed on Fenton.

It’s robust enough to make youngsters pay attention for 30 seconds to adults these days, but to see an total football team not letting anybody or something disturb their focus while their coach is talking offers a trace why Los Alamitos is 7-0 and the shock high faculty football team in Southern California this season.

“Everyone has their eye on coach,” offensive lineman Braiden McKenna said. “It’s all the little things that keep you disciplined. Wearing your mouthpiece, keeping your eyes on him.”

It’s not true that Los Alamitos doesn’t have any stars. They may not have been talked about a lot in preseason hype lists, but gamers have carried out at a high degree so far.

Tight end Beckham Hofland, 6 foot 5 and 230 kilos, is a load to cowl and also serves as a kicker. Running backs Kamden Tillis and Lenny Ibarra are versatile and dependable. Quarterback Colin Creason, who sat out last season while transferring from Long Beach Poly, retains enhancing. The offensive line, led by the veteran McKenna, who performs middle, is superb. Ibarra leads the protection with 66 tackles.

“It’s so much easier to want to win with someone you care about and they care about you,” McKenna said of the team chemistry.

Los Alamitos has had more gifted groups in current years aided by switch college students. This one is usually home grown, and Fenton couldn’t be happier.

“They’re friends,” Fenton said. “They’ve grown up together. You play harder with guys you’re friends with. You don’t want to let them down. They’re Los Al kids. They take pride in the community.”

They received in Hawaii 34-31 on tying and game-winning subject targets by Ibarra, who practiced kicking the ball between two palm trees at a park. They knocked off Gardena Serra 42-21. They beat a good Granite Hills team 49-42. Seven straight wins got here over seven weeks, so now they’re on a two-week break to put together for the daunting job of going through three good Alpha League opponents — Edison at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 16, at San Clemente on Oct. 24 and a finale against Mission Viejo on Oct. 30 at Artesia.

They are critical contenders for a Southern Section Division 1 playoff berth even though some people still can’t determine how they keep profitable.

The reply is simple: they’re hungry. Never underestimate a team where one teammate after another helps each other no matter the challenges, no matter the obstacles, no matter the skepticism of others.

“This is throwback,” Fenton said. “It’s old school. Play for your local school, play for your community, play for your friends. The kids you played Pop Warner with are the kids you’re playing high school football with. It’s the way it was supposed to be.”