Flintridge Prep football rallies for Prep League victory over Firebaugh, 25-21

LA CAÑADA — Navigated by the fleet feet and clutch play of junior Andrew Tsangeos, the Flintridge Prep football team founds its way to a thrilling homecoming victory Saturday night.

Tsangeos scored four total touchdowns, three on the ground, and chipped in as part of an overall outstanding second-half defensive performance as the Rebels rallied to defeat Firebaugh, 25-21, in Prep League action at La Cañada High.

“I’m pretty stoked right now,” smiled Tsangeos, who ended the night with a game-high 129 yards rushing in 25 carries for three touchdowns, while completing 12 of 17 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. “We had to win for the seniors. We didn’t want to leave them with an ‘L’ in their last home game.”

Tsangeos swept in from a yard out with 6:58 remaining in the contest to score the game-winning touchdown before sprinting to the sideline, throwing his hands up and imploring the homecoming crowd to its loudest applause yet.

“I was just happy,” said Tsangeos, whose Rebels improved to 5-3, 1-1 in league, while handing Firebaugh (1-7, 0-2) its fifth straight defeat. “I didn’t want to lose. It felt great.”

In all, Tsangeos played quarterback on offense, handled the punting duties and on defense lined up at defensive end and, in the second half, cornerback, aiding in double coverage against Firebaugh receiver Aaron Gibson. Gibson caught six of his team’s seven completions for 159 yards and three touchdowns, using his 6-foot-1 frame handily against much shorter defensive backs.

On Gibson’s final touchdown – which led to a 21-13 third-quarter lead for Firebaugh – cornerback Alex Hernandez suffered a reported separated shoulder. The Rebels then elected to try out Tsangeos and Gibson didn’t have another catch.

“[Gibson’s] a helluva an athlete and he was making some big catches,” Harrison said. “[Tsangeos is] an athlete, he went out there and he was up to the challenge.”

Trailing, 13-7, at halftime, Flintridge Prep tied the game when Tsangeos rolled out and hit receiver Aldridge Khin (three catches for 38 yards) with a bullet for an 11-yard score. The point-after attempt was blocked, however, and Firebaugh answered with a score on its ensuing drive, adding a two-point conversion for a 21-13 lead with 3:31 to play in the third quarter.

Thereafter, it was all Prep.

The Rebels answered with a 12-play, 66-yard drive that culminated with a four-yard scoring run by Tsangeos with 10:59 left in the game to cut the score to 21-19. Tsangeos found receiver Robbie Leslie on the two-point try, but Leslie was ruled out of bounds. On the drive, Tsangeos rushed five times for 27 yards. Many of his carries in the game were designed, but even more were scrambling, as he incurred four first-half sacks and was under constant pressure from the Firebaugh pass rush.

“We knew that they have some big guys and they were athletes,” said Tsangeos of the Falcons, who represent a school with a student body of 1,900 compared to the roughly 300 at Prep and also possessed a noticeable size advantage on the field, as well.

After cutting the score to 21-19, the Rebels then came up with a momentum-shifting turnover on downs, holding Firebaugh on fourth and two from the Prep 43.

Three plays later, Tsangeos rolled right and reversed across the field for a 30-yard gain. Three plays after that, he scored on the one-yard sweep.

“Andrew, he’s got a great arm, but he’s got great feet, as well,” Harrison said.

Another Tsangeos-to-Leslie two-point try was ruled out of bounds to leave the score at 25-21 with 6:52 to go.

Once again, though, the Rebels’ defense came up clutch, holding on fourth and three from the Prep 42 on a horribly overthrown pass on a screen play.

On the offensive end, the Rebels couldn’t take advantage with another score, turning the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive. However, linebacker Chris Zaro stripped the ball on the Falcons’ first play after taking over with 3:39 left. Defensive lineman Cameron Wen came up with the fumble recovery and the Rebels ran the final 3:31 off the clock for the victory.

Flintridge Prep drew first blood when Tsangeos scored on a six-yard run as Prep took a 7-0 lead with 11:08 to play. The 79-yard scoring drive was keyed by a Tsangeos-to-Khin 25-yard completion on third and seven.

For the most part, the Rebels’ offense was held in check, though, notching just 94 total yards in the first half. Tsangeos had 57 yards rushing in nine carries.

On defense and special teams, the Rebels blocked a field goal, a punt and an extra point and held Firebaugh at bay until it began exploiting Gibson’s height advantage by essentially throwing up jump balls.

Gibson caught all four of the team’s completions in the first half with touchdowns catches of 39 and seven yards at 9:11 and 1:18 of the second quarter, respectively.

But the second half was a much different story.

“It’s a great feeling,” Harrison said. “We definitely could’ve played better, but this is the first time we’ve been down at halftime and come back to win.

“Though it’s not the best performance, I’m happy with the win.”