Rebels go out winners, 34-14
CLAREMONT — A significant amount of trust was placed in the hands of Jared Norsworthy.
In a couple of tight spots, the Flintridge Prep senior receiver came through with a career-best performance.
Norsworthy caught three touchdown passes, including two on fourth downs to propel the visiting Rebels to a 34-14 season-ending Prep League victory on Friday afternoon against Webb.
Norsworthy finished with just three catches, but made them count for 84 yards and three scores to help the Rebels finish the season 2-6-1 and 2-3 in league and on a two-game winning streak.
“I haven’t had a game like this before,” Norsworthy said. “I just wanted to come out and have a great game and have a good time doing it.”
Norsworthy gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead when he hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle McDonald on fourth and nine with 4:44 left in the second quarter. The duo came through again with 19 seconds left in the first half on a 14-yard strike leading to a 13-0 halftime advantage.
Prep first-year Coach Antonio Harrison, who received 186 yards rushing and a touchdown in 17 carries from running back Chris Wirthlin, said he had confidence that Norsworthy could make a couple of big plays.
“We knew that if we could get Jared into one-on-one coverage that he would have enough speed and get around the corner,” Harrison said. “We were able to throw it up to him because fourth down doesn’t scare me.”
Webb (3-6-1, 0-4-1) sliced the lead to 13-7 with 6:43 left in the third quarter on a four-yard run by Everett Chu, who finished with 188 yards rushing in 27 carries.
On Prep’s ensuing possession, Norsworthy completed his day with a fortunate break. On fourth and seven, McDonald tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass that tipped off a Webb defender and into Norsworthy’s hands to extend the Rebels’ lead to 19-7 with 5:08 remaining in the third.
McDonald completed seven of 15 passes for 141 yards, the three touchdowns and one interception.
A five-yard run by Chu cut the deficit to 19-14 with 3:43 left in the third quarter. However, the Rebels closed out the game with a pair of fourth-quarter rushing scores.
Wirthlin scored on a 15-yard run to make it 27-14 on the fourth play in the final stanza. Lucas Kim then scored on a five-yard run with 1:37 left to finish the scoring.
While the Rebels missed the playoffs for a second season in a row, Harrison said the Rebels might have something to build on following two consecutive wins to end the season.
“It’s nice to end up with a couple of wins, and I wish we had a couple more,” Harrison said. “We were able to bring it in the last two games, so it will be a positive for the returners.”