Rally falls short as Flintridge Prep football loses second in a row

LA CAÑADA — For a second straight week, the Flintridge Prep football team showcased an uncanny ability to rally late.

Unfortunately for the host Rebels, they also came up short again, this time as the squad was stuffed at the one-yard line on a two-point try of what was a thrilling 38-37 victory for visiting Calvary Chapel Downey in eight-man football Saturday afternoon.

The loss was the second in a row for the CIF Southern Section Division I fourth-ranked Rebels (4-2), whose loss to No. 10 Calvary Chapel (5-3) followed a 55-48 loss to then No. 9-ranked Cate the previous weekend.

“Today, it was just about not completing assignments and just doing things that haven’t been coached,” Flintridge Prep Coach Russell White said. “We’re dealing with high school kids and not professionals, so brain farts will happen and we’re going to work hard to keep on improving.”

In the defeat versus Cate, the Rebels rallied from an 18-point deficit in the first half and a 17-point second-half hole.

On Saturday, the Rebels trailed by 23 points with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter before responding with another valiant comeback.

The rally’s climax took place when quarterback John Lytle, who completed 19 of 37 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns, hit receiver Nick Davis (eight catches for 82 yards and three touchdowns) on a 10-yard touchdown fade in the end zone with 1:16 left in the game.

The score not only capped an improbable 22-0 run while bringing the Rebels within 38-37, but it left White with a decision. The coach chose to go for two rather than attempt a tying point-after try.

“That’s just me man; I don’t play for ties, period,” White said. “I don’t care if it’s one-on-one or if there’s overtime or whatever. We just go for it and whatever happens, happens. It just didn’t happen for us again.”

White’s Rebels lined up for a two-point try and promptly received an offside call against Calvary Chapel that moved the ball to the 1 1/2-yard line. Prep then called its last timeout.

Out of the break, Lytle and fullback Warren Hosseinion, who normally plays on the offensive line, collided on a hand-off. Though Hosseinion still pushed forward, the hesitation after both players smacked into each other allowed two Calvary Chapel defenders to make a stop at the one.

Flintridge Prep attempted a pooch kick, but Calvary Chapel was in perfect position to recover. The Grizzlies then ran out the clock.

“We just didn’t run that play with the same people we usually do and sometimes that stuff happens,” Lytle said when asked if the two-point try was stalled because of a miscommunication. “There’s a lot more than that last play and you can’t blame this loss on one play.”

A play-action 29-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Escalante (seven for 10 for 78 yards and one touchdown and one interception) to Carson Norman with 9:50 left gave Calvary Chapel a 38-15 lead (the two-point try was missed).

Flintridge Prep’s next possession ended in a fumble that was recovered by sophomore Andrew Rangel, which appeared to spell doom for the Rebels.

Yet, with the game just about out of reach, Flintridge Prep’s defense responded as senior Danny Chiarodit, who moved over from cornerback to outside linebacker in place of the injured Brian Lara, returned an interception 35 yards for a score.

“I just saw my guy running across the field and they actually beat me on that same play earlier in the game,” Chiarodit said of the game-changing pick. “I was just trying to stay over the top, saw the ball in the air, tried to high-point it and fortunately I was able to get it.”

A successful two-point conversion brought the Rebels within 38-23 with 4:38 left.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Rebels executed a perfectly placed pooch kick over the Grizzlies special teams, which anticipated an onside try.

The ball landed in no-man’s land and was recovered by the Rebels at the Calvary Chapel six.

On the very next play, Lytle hit Davis on a six-yard touchdown pass that brought the Rebels within 38-31 after a two-point conversion with 4:30 remaining.

Flintridge Prep then forced a three-and-out, which led to the Rebels’ last offensive series.

Outside of the fourth quarter, the Rebels had trouble containing Calvary Chapel’s run-heavy offense, which chewed up exactly 200 yards, led by Tony Rangel (22 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns).

Flintridge Prep scored the first touchdown of the game on a Lytle 18-yard pass to Kendall Kikkawa to go up, 7-0, after one quarter.

Calvary Chapel responded with rushing touchdowns of three and two yards, respectively, from Rangel and Julian Restrepo to go up, 16-7, at halftime thanks to two two-point conversions.

While Lytle connected with Davis on a three-yard touchdown pass to open action in the third quarter and pull the Rebels within 16-15 after a two-point try, Calvary Chapel scored 22 unanswered points to take a 38-15 lead.