After Reprieve, Brea Gets Busy Preparing for Playoffs

Tuesday was a busy day for the Brea-Olinda High School football team.

Out of the playoff picture with a fourth-place finish in the Orange League last week, the Wildcats are now in the playoffs thanks to Savanna’s forfeits. Brea will take Savanna’s place in the Division VI playoffs and play host to Fullerton Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Jon Looney, Brea coach, spent the day tracking down his assistant coaches and players and reissuing equipment.

“We’re really excited,” Looney said. “We’ve got a new lease on life.”

Brea, which finished with a 7-3 record, had hoped for an at-large bid, but instead it went to Corona del Mar (7-3), the division’s defending champion.

Looney said his team would go through a light practice Tuesday; the coaches would stay most of the night watching films and cramming for the Fullerton game.

“It doesn’t give Fullerton an advantage,” Looney said. “They’re in the same situation we are. At least we got the weekend off to rest up.”

Steve Nishimoto, Fullerton’s coach, agreed.

“It’s going to create some long hours,” he said. “but Brea is in the same situation we are.”