EMPIRE LEAGUE : Los Alamitos Clinches Title by Routing Katella

LONG BEACH —  Any notion that Los Alamitos’ football team might be a little sluggish after its big victory over Esperanza last week was history by halftime Thursday night against Katella.

Top-ranked Los Alamitos built a 31-0 halftime lead on the way to a 45-0 victory at Veterans Stadium that clinched the league title for the Griffins.

The Griffins (9-0, 4-0 in league) can finish the regular season undefeated for the first time in Coach John Barnes’ 14 years at the school with a victory over Cypress next week. Unranked Katella dropped to 4-5, 1-3 and out of playoff contention.

Tim Carey completed 22 of 32 passes for 295 yards and three first-half touchdowns as the Griffins outgained Katella, 429 yards to 132.

Carey’s totals give him 4,715 career passing yards, moving him into 11th on the all-time Orange County chart. He needs 101 yards to pass Kennedy’s Mark Larsen for 10th place.

Los Alamitos’ defense continued to play just as well as Carey. The Griffins held Katella to five first downs, and the Knights’ deepest drive was to the Los Alamitos 27-yard line late in the game.

It was Los Alamitos’ third shutout in league. The Griffins have outscored their league opponents, 157-14.

“Our defense has been playing so great,” Barnes said. “(Katella) moved the ball on Esperanza, and we just shut them down. We took everything away from them.”

Los Alamitos built its halftime lead by capitalizing on great field position, helped by George Sagen’s four punt returns for 41 yards.

The Griffins scored on five of seven first-half possessions. Carey threw touchdown passes of four and 35 yards to Sagen and nine yards to Don Ruberio. Wright added 54 yards rushing in the first half in nine carries.