Flintridge Prep finalizes 2014 football schedule

A schedule that was in flux through portions of the spring and into the summer has been finalized for the Flintridge Prep football team.

Despite changes and late drops, the Rebels have secured a 10-game season for the upcoming 2014 campaign.

“This took longer than we would have liked, but it’s done,” said Rebels Coach Antonio Harrison, a Flintridge Prep 2001 alumnus. “We had to switch things up because of Chadwick dropping varsity football and because of other changes.”

The Prep League underwent a few changes during the offseason, with Webb leaving the league, Firebaugh of Lynwood taking its place and Chadwick dropping varsity football for the immediate future.

Last season, Flintridge Prep had its struggles, finishing 2-8 overall and 1-3 in the Prep League, which translated into a fourth-place finish and no postseason berth.

This season, the Rebels will attempt to reach the postseason after a one-year hiatus and will begin with a zero week home game Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. versus nearby Blair of Pasadena at Occidental College.

The Vikings may be the one team this year with a smaller roster than Flintridge Prep, as Blair has similarly struggled with team size and fielded 20 players last season.

Not surprising, Blair was winless in 2013 and will attempt to snap a 29-game losing streak.

Following perhaps the easiest game of the season, the Rebels will face one of their toughest opponents in Brentwood back at Occidental on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

Even though the Eagles posted a 3-6 season last year, they competed in the difficult Alpha League and played a slate of games that included small-school stalwarts Rio Hondo Prep, Pasadena Poly, Paraclete, Windward and Sierra Canyon.

“Honestly, this is a game that I’d love to have scheduled on a yearly basis,” Harrison said. “When I played back in 2000 and before that, we used to face Brentwood on the schedule and it was a great game.”

From Brentwood, the Rebels are round-bound for the first time on Sept. 11 in the first of two Thursday contests against Brethren Christian (7-3) of Huntington Beach. The game is slated for 7 p.m. and will be played at Ocean View High in Huntington Beach.

After Brethren Christian, Flintridge Prep was initially supposed to face Santa Clarita Christian on Sept. 20. But a scheduling issue led to the cancellation of that contest and Flintridge Prep will instead play Sept. 19 at Sierra Vista (3-7) of Baldwin Park at 7 p.m.

“We had a vacancy and we’re happy to have Sierra Vista fill in,” Harrison said.

Maybe the most intriguing opponent on Flintridge Prep’s schedule comes to town Sept. 27 for a 1 p.m. Saturday contest at Occidental as the Rebels will host Mountain Empire (7-5) of Pine Valley, a one-time eight-man football power out of the San Diego Section.

If there’s a drawback to the Saturday contest it’s that the Rebels won’t have much turnaround time to face Campbell Hall at Birmingham High in Van Nuys on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

Campbell Hall also had roster issues last season and only participated in five games, going 1-4 before canceling the rest of the season.

After Campbell Hall, Flintridge Prep jumps into the tight four-team Prep League season with likely its biggest challenge of the season coming in seven-time Prep League champion Rio Hondo Prep (11-2) at Occidental College at 7 p.m.

The Kares are riding a 26-game league winning streak and bested Flintridge Prep, 63-22, last season.

From the known to the unknown, Flintridge Prep will host league newcomer Firebaugh (2-7) on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at La Cañada High in the program’s homecoming.

Instead of having a bye in week eight, Flintridge is instead back in action due to Chadwick dropping its game and will have a nonleague contest at Mary Star of the Sea (4-6) of San Pedro at 7 p.m.

It’s after Mary Star that the Rebels will take their bye in week nine before a showdown with Pasadena Poly (7-3) at South Pasadena High at 7 p.m. in the season finale.

“I know there’s a natural build-up to the Poly game and a bye right before that is going to fuel it,” Harrison said. “I know the student body gets excited for that game, but I don’t as much.

“I’m more excited about this entire schedule. If we take care of business, though, that game will probably be big.”