Schedule feels familiar for Flintridge Prep football
A second season at the eight-man level brings some familiarity for the Flintridge Prep football team, at least with the squad’s upcoming 2017 schedule.
While every opponent was brand new in 2016 as the Rebels dropped from 11-man football, this campaign includes several of last year’s foes with some newcomers.
Flintridge Prep enjoyed a banner 2016 as the squad, which competed as a freelance team in Division I, finished 7-4 and advanced to the semifinals.
The 2017 slate appears to be a challenging one as the Rebels’ nine foes combined for a 44-42 record with seven of nine teams reaching the postseason and one a defending CIF champion.
Unlike most eight-man teams that compete on Saturdays and in the afternoon, all of Flintridge Prep’s home games this season will be Friday night games at 7 p.m.
As was the case last season, the Rebels will open the new year versus Van Nuys Fulton Prep (0-10), this time at home on Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
Flintridge Prep kicked off 2016 with a bang in a 53-6 road victory that was the start of a season-opening four-game winning streak.
Following Fulton Prep, the Rebels take one of the their sizable road trips with a 316-mile round trip to take on Orcutt Academy (4-5) on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Santa Maria High.
“They had a good run in the playoffs and they reached out to one of my coaches to give it a go,” Flintridge Prep coach Russell White said. “We don’t run from anyone and we took it.”
The Spartans represent the first of three Condor League teams on the Rebels’ schedule.
After, Flintridge Prep hosts perhaps its most notable team this season in defending CIF Los Angeles City Section Champion Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (11-1) on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
Last season, the Rebels handed SOCES its only loss via a 56-34 defeat.
With SOCES in the rear-view mirror, Flintridge will again hit the road for a 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 game at Carpinteria Cate (4-5), both a Condor League foe and playoff participant.
It was Cate that handed Flintridge Prep its first loss last season, 55-48, in La Cañada.
“We’ve had a good relationship with Cate,” White said. “They came to me last year and I’ve got to go to them. We have some long road trips, but we’re ready to face whoever wherever.”
Flintridge Prep will then have a short week when it hosts nearby Bellarmine-Jefferson (2-7) on Friday, Sept. 22 for a 7 p.m. contest.
The Rebels enjoyed one of their biggest wins of the season, 71-8, at home versus the Guards.
After Bell-Jeff, Flintridge Prep engages in perhaps the marquee matchup of the season when it hosts Condor League champion and fellow semifinalist Ojai Thacher (7-3) on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
The Toads handed the Rebels their most decisive regular-season defeat, 68-41, on the road last season.
“I’m always excited to face Thacher, Cate and Chadwick,” White said. “They gave us some good games last year, so we wanted to see them again.”
With six of its nine games completed, Flintridge Prep will take a bye before heading back to action Saturday, Oct. 14 at Downey Calvary Chapel (5-4) at 6 p.m.
The teams took part in a thriller last season in La Cañada won by the Grizzlies, 38-37.
Flintridge Prep then returns to campus for the regular-season home finale and homecoming on Friday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. versus San Luis Obispo Mission Prep (4-5).
Mission Prep is making its debut at the eight-man level in 2017.
As for the season finale, the Rebels travel to former Prep League rival Chadwick (7-3) for a contest on Friday, Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
The teams met up in last season’s finale, one that Flintridge Prep eked out, 39-36.
