Flintridge Prep football stumbles against Chadwick in regular-season finale
Heading into its Prep League finale, the Flintridge Prep football team had a chance to get a couple of things accomplished.
The Rebels looked to sew up second place in league and likely move up a spot in CIF Southern Section Division I eight-man competition.
Flintridge Prep wasn’t able to meet its goals, committing four turnovers en route to a 42-34 league road loss against Chadwick on Friday.
Flintridge Prep finishes the regular season 7-2, 1-2 in league for third place and will likely pick up an at-large playoff berth. Chadwick (8-1, 2-1) places second behind Windward after winning the league title last season.
“It was a crazy game, but a good game,” said Flintridge Prep fourth-year coach Russell White, whose team is ranked No. 3 in the division behind Windward and Chadwick. “We gave ourselves a chance, but we came up short in a couple of areas with dropped passes and the four turnovers.
“It’s still a very good record that we have and give a lot of credit to Chadwick. Chadwick took advantage of our mistakes. Hats off to them.”
Flintridge Prep, which took third in league for the second straight season, held a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and appeared ready to achieve its pregame goals.
Flintridge Prep took a 7-0 lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Gitlin (21 of 37 for 293 yards and five touchdowns and three interceptions) to Zack Kim with 9:09 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rebels extended the lead to 14-0 on a 20-yard touchdown strike from Gitlin to receiver Ben Grable with 4:45 to go in the first quarter.
But Chadwick pulled to within 14-6 on a 30-yard touchdown run by running back Oryan Hamlin, who finished with 194 yards rushing in 34 carries and four touchdowns, with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Dolphins pulled to with in 14-12 on a 20-yard touchdown run by Hamlin with 10:57 to go in the second quarter.
Grable (eight receptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns) caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Gitlin to give the Rebels a 21-12 lead with 6:27 to play in the second quarter.
A five-yard touchdown run by Chadwick quarterback Charlton Jackson brought the Dolphins to within 21-20 with 3:39 left in the quarter.
Hamlin closed out the first-half scoring with no time left to give Chadwick a 28-21 advantage.
Flintridge Prep knotted it at 28 on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gitlin to Grable with 5:20 left in the third quarter.
Chadwick then went ahead, 34-28, on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Landon Dyson with 3:09 to play in the third quarter.
The Dolphins and Rebels each scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Hamlin scored on a 25-yard touchdown run, less than two minutes after he intercepted a pass by Gitlin at midfield, to give Chadwick a 42-28 lead with 1:58 remaining.
Flintridge Prep closed out the scoring on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Gitlin to Christian Baydaline with 1:30 to go.
Chadwick recovered the onside kick before sealing the victory.
