Prep losses ground battle, 42-7

SOUTH PASADENA — Practicing against speed is one thing. Trying to contain a quick team proved to be another.

For the members of the Flintridge Prep football team, they had no answer in stopping a steady running attack by chief Prep League rival Pasadena Poly on Friday night.

Prep yielded 230 yards rushing and four rushing touchdowns in a 42-7 league loss to Poly at South Pasadena High.

“It’s a tough to simulate that kind of speed in a practice session,” said Prep first-year Coach Antonio Harrison, whose team dropped to 0-6-1, 0-3 in league. “Now, you learn how to face things like that.

“It’s a learning curve and every week we get a little closer.”

The Panthers (6-1, 3-0) wasted little time getting started against the Rebels.

Just 87 seconds into the game, Poly took a 7-0 lead on a five-yard run by Blake Edwards. Things continued to go in the Panthers’ favor as Prep quarterback Kyle McDonald was sacked in the end zone for a safety to make it 9-0 with 4:13 left.

Edwards extended Poly’s lead to 16-0 when he broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run to extend the advantage to 16-0 with 2:48 left in the opening quarter.

Prep’s night grew longer when Chris Levin scored on a 19-yard run on fourth down and 11 to make it 22-0 with 8:35 remaining gin the second quarter.

Poly quarterback Hunter Merryman then lofted a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jack Porter to extend the lead to 28-0 with 4:05 left in the second quarter before Merryman made it 35-0 on a one-yard run with 40 seconds left in the first half.

Prep finally scored on a four-yard run by McDonald with 4:03 left in the contest. The Rebels finished with 45 yards rushing and 68 yards of total offense.