THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Enumclaw High School Athletics

The Los Alamos High School varsity football teams continued its dominant road play last weekend, defeating Grants High School 37-0 at Port of the Pirates Stadium. This was the team’s second straight road win, and by an identical shutout score as their week one win over Pojoaque High School. Though the defense impressed, it was the offense that got the Hilltoppers going early. After forcing a turnover on downs on the first Grants possession, the Hilltoppers offense marched right down the field and scored with ease, as senior running back Ryan McNeil forced his way into the end zone from six yards out, as LAHS took a 7-0 lead. They would stretch that lead to 14-0 on their next drive, as the running game of the Hilltoppers could not be stopped. After once again running their way the length of the field, LAHS junior quarterback Dylan Irish snuck his way into the end zone from three yards out, scoring their second touchdown of the first quarter. The defense made its first big play of the game on the next Grants possession, forcing a fumble and giving possession back to the Hilltopper offense. They did not waste the opportunity, as senior running back Jack Stewart ran the ball in from three yards out and stretched the lead to 21-0. The Hilltoppers scored on their first three drives of the game, as LAHS kept the defense guessing with a dominant rushing attack that was spread evenly between Irish, McNeil and Stewart and running back Cade Yost. After jumping out to a three-touchdown advantage, it was time for the defense to step up to protect it. And they did just that on the next Grants possession. The Pirates switched up their strategy on the drive, spreading the Hilltoppers out with wide receivers on the outside and then running the ball straight through the middle. With that running attack, Grants got the ball all the way down to the 2-yard line, but were denied four straight times by the Hilltoppers, with the last three stops being made by junior linebacker Lawrence Armenta. The stops gave the ball back to the Hilltoppers, and they never looked back. Irish scored his second touchdown of the game on the first drive of the third quarter on an 11-yard rush, extending the Hilltopper lead to 28-0. The top defensive play for the Hilltoppers came near the end of the third quarter, as LAHS pinned Grants deep in their own territory and came up with a safety as they tackled the Pirate running back in his own end zone, earning two additional points and giving LAHS a 30-0 lead. Yost scored the final touchdown of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and the Hilltoppers rolled to a 37-0 victory. Prior to their two shutouts this season, the team had not held an opponent scoreless since 2013. That year, the Hilltoppers recorded consecutive shutouts against Española Valley and Capital to end the season. The Hilltoppers will look to continue their dominant road play this week as they head to Kirtland to take on Kirtland Central High School Friday at 7 p.m. Last season, Kirtland Central defeated the Hilltoppers 40-14 at Sullivan Field.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Enumclaw High School Athletics

FOOTBALL CONTIUES ROAD DOMINANCE

PHIL SCHERER

LA Monitor | 9/15/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Ralph Allen