Flintridge Prep mauls Fulton Prep
LA CAÑADA – It would be difficult to argue that the Flintridge Prep football team was anything but perfect Friday evening.
The Rebels scored on all nine of their offensive possessions, added two special teams touchdowns and the defense never allowed visiting Van Nuys Fulton Prep inside the red zone in a 72-0 nonleague victory in the season opener for both squads.
The triumphs trumps the Rebels’ 53-6 victory over Fulton Prep in Van Nuys last season and marks the program’s largest margin of victory this century.
Flintridge Prep topped the previous best from the CIF Southern Section Division XIII championship team, which blasted Webb, 70-0, at St. Francis on Oct. 17, 2003.
“It was nice tonight and it was good to see some things that you had questions about coming into the game and you got your answers,” said Flintridge Prep coach Russell White, who registered his first shutout with the Rebels. “I hate putting up a lot of points up, but to get what we need out of preparation, sometimes that’s what needs to happen.”
The Rebels led, 28-0, after one quarter, 41-0, at the half and, 55-0, following three quarters.
Returning All-Area junior quarterback John Lytle sat the fourth quarter, but still had a big day, as he completed eight of nine passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Lytle also rushed three times for 28 yards and one score.
“It was good to finally get some throws in against a real team,” Lytle said. “When you’re going through hell week, you’re not getting hit. It’s great to see live action and I felt we got the reps we needed.”
Lytle connected on a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ramzi Beshir, a one-yard touchdown pass to Charlie McCormick and a nine-yard strike to Nick Davis in the third quarter in what was his final pass. For good measure, Lytle also scored on a 13-yard option run to give Flintridge Prep a 28-0 lead at the three-minute mark in the first quarter.
While Lytle was certainly a known commodity, the Rebels also received a breakout effort from Tommy Porter, a freshman running back.
Porter returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, ran 65 yards for a score in the third quarter and converted his second and final carry of the game for a 56-yard touchdown in the fourth.
“It was a total team effort tonight,” Porter said. “Without the blocking, I’m not scoring on any of those plays. I was just trying to find open space to make a play.”
Alex Smith turned in a fine debut for the Rebels, carrying seven times for 70 yards with two touchdowns. Smith punched in the game’s first two scores on a nine-yard touchdown run followed by a 13-yard score.
Sophomore running back Alex Payne finished with eight rushes for 63 yards and one touchdown while freshman kicker Silas Chavez booted a 39-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to account for the final three points.
Fulton Prep’s Fernando Castillo led his team with 12 carries for 27 yards.
