Sports

University Football Suffers First Defeat

Local sports: The Wildcats fell behind by 49 points at halftime in a 56-0 loss to Los Alamitos, but the rest of their schedule should be easier.

Mom always said there would days like this.

Riding high with two wins in a row after entering the season with a 24-game losing streak, University High’s football team lost 56-0 to powerful Los Alamitos in a road game Thursday at Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach against one of the top teams from the Pac-5, the Southern Section’s most competitive division.

The visiting Wildcats took their licks, but they’re going to be a better team down the road because of the experience of playing against such a prestigious program, University coach Lee Lowe said.

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“We got our butt whupped but it’s going to help us a lot,” Lowe said. “Los Alamitos was No. 8 in the CIF going in, and they’re already an established program that knows how to win. We’re still learning how to win.”

Los Alamitos scored on a blocked punt return to go ahead 14-0, and it’s all a blur from there. The host Griffins only ran three offensive plays by the time the score was 21-0 -- one touchdown on the blocked punt and another on an interception return -- and the lead was 49 at the half before going to a running clock over the final two quarters.

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“Once they scored on that blocked punt, they just kind of built the momentum after that,” Lowe said. “It was the first time we had ever played in a stadium, and the game was really big and everything like that. I wanted to put us in a situation like that, an event of that level, and I think it was a good experience for us, a big task.

“We should be all right. It’s going to help us down the road and make us a little tougher and a little faster as far as the speed of the game and understanding the game.”

The Wildcats have eight days to prepare for another road game next Friday at Eagle Rock (0-3), an opponent that defeated University by 40 points a year ago.

“I think we’ll have a much better shot,” Lowe said. “Last year is over. We’re hoping to move on and take care of business against Eagle Rock. We’re trying to avenge that loss from last year.”

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO GO ABOVE .500

University girls’ volleyball team, coached by Alyson Randick, is 1-1 after losing Monday to Fairfax after opening with a win over San Pedro. The Wildcats continue Saturday at noon against Van Nuys in the Van Nuys tournament.


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