Anticipation for special season builds for Flintridge Prep football

There’s a certain undeniable feeling at Flintridge Prep this summer.

As the heat index has risen, so too have the expectations and the belief that the upcoming 2015 football season is one that people will be talking about for a while.

This faith is built upon a relatively smooth coaching transition in the winter, the return of potentially the area’s top quarterback, a perceived step taken back by Prep League opponents and a growing sense of camaraderie.

It’s that blend that has new Flintridge Prep Coach Glen Beattie more than just upbeat.

“Without directly saying it, I think it’s going to be one of the best years since 2003,” Beattie said. “Our goal is to get to the playoffs and I really think this is a team that can do it.”

In 2003, the Rebels captured a CIF Southern Section Division XIII championship by downing archrival Pasadena Poly, 17-10, for the program’s last CIF crown. That season, Beattie was an assistant coach under Marty Konrad.

Now, as was the case then, the Panthers again stand in the way of the Rebels and their chase for both a Prep League title and a deep postseason run.

Flintridge Prep is coming off a 5-5 season in 2014 in which the Rebels finished 1-2 in league and did not grab one of two guaranteed playoff spots out of the truncated four-team Prep League.

In the offseason, Antonio Harrison resigned after five seasons as the Rebels’ coach and was replaced by longtime coordinator Beattie, who also formerly coached the team from 1986 to 2000.

“It’s been great to have coach Beattie take over because he really knows the team,” Rebels wide receiver Robbie Leslie said. “It’s not a big change for us.”

Speaking of continuity, the Rebels welcome back Andrew Tsangeos, their 6-foot-3, 250-pound three-year starting quarterback.

“I and the other seniors have been waiting for years for this year and we’re excited to be leading this team,” said Tsangeos, who also plays on the basketball team. “I’ve been studying more of the option, watching college and professional football and want to do even better this season. We have options and I think we’re going to have a big year.”

Out of Beattie’s option offense last season, Tsangeos earned All-Area second team honors after finishing with 33 total touchdowns along with 1,319 passing yards and 426 yards on the ground.

Should defenders try to blitz Tsangeos, perhaps the quarterback will be best protected up the middle as the Rebels welcome back a solid offensive line led by a three-man core of senior center Arthur Chang, senior right guard Warren Hosseinion and senior left guard Zoey Zhu, who is back after a one-year break.

“We have a few returners on the line, but we’ve learned a lot from our new offensive line coach [Marty] Wurmlinger,” Chang said. “I think this is going to be the best unit on the team.”

Protection and timing with be key as the Rebels break in a somewhat new backfield with junior running backs Lukas Hutzler, Nate Gi and Mike Pearson all expected to make contributions.

While Flintridge Prep lost its No. 1 receiver in Riley Jones (11 receiving touchdowns), Beattie is confident that the combination of Leslie (340 receiving yards), Danny Chiarodit and junior Bruce Dennis will fill in nicely alongside senior flanker Aldridge Khin.

“We don’t have that breakout receiver, but we have a lot good possession guys,” Beattie said. “You’re looking for guys to run the right routes and catch the ball.”

On defense, Zhu and Hosseinion will anchor the interior, while defense ends Chang and Gi will look to make plays off the edge. Beattie said that he will also mix in time for senior Richard Pan at defensive end.

If there’s a question mark, it may be at linebacker. Beattie is confident the quartet of Pearson, Hutzler, Kole Hamane and Brian Lara will develop throughout the year.

In the secondary, Beattie has a trio of reliable defenders in Chiarodit, Khin and Dennis, while Jonah Sacks will be handling the kicking and punting duties.

While the team is nearly set, the speculation over Flintridge Prep’s rank in the Prep League is very much up for debate.

Defending champion Poly graduated the league’s most valuable player in running back Griffin Carter, while league runner-up Rio Hondo Prep also waved goodbye to some key players.

“Poly lost its three best players and Rio Hondo lost its top running back,” Tsangeos said. “We lost some guys, too, but I think we have the most coming back.

“We’re hungry, too. Rio Hondo and Poly have been to the playoffs. We think it’s our time now.”