Football: Short-handed Rebels Look to Stay Healthy

The football program has had its ups and downs in recent years.

The Rebels won a CIF title in 2003 and are the only local school with a current NFL player in New York Giants receiver Ramses Barden.

But things weren’t so good last season when the team went 2-6-1.

Second-year coach Antonio Harrison likes what he sees so far, but realizes the Rebels will need to keep their fingers crossed this season as they will suit up just 18 players.

Seven of those players return from last season’s varsity squad.

“We graduated 12 and in this senior class there are only five,” Harrison said.

“I think we look really solid. The only issue is that because we have small numbers, we have to stay injury free. If we stay injury free, I expect great things.”

Junior Clayton Weirick takes over at quarterback after playing the same role on the junior varsity a year ago.

Senior Chris Wirthlin, who will play running back and corner back, is expected to lead the Rebels in carries.

Senior two-way lineman Josh Kim, senior linebacker/tight end Daniel Jung, senior linebacker/running back Lucas Kim, senior linebacker/wide receiver Zayd Al-Marayati also return to the mix.

The two juniors who return to the varsity from last season are junior Chadd Cosse, who was a second-team all-league selection and is also on the school’s basketball team. Cosse is a two-way lineman.

The other returner is Dylan Colliflower, who will be a linebacker and running back.

Junior two-way linemen Tucker Chemel, West Novotny and Cory Witter figure to help give the Rebels some muscle.

Harrison, who graduated from Flintridge Prep in 2001 and played for four years at Grinnell College in Iowa, said the number of players is something his school has become accustomed to.

“I don’t think it is the lowest Prep has ever had. It is the lowest it has been in a while,” Harrison said. “We’re going to work with what we’ve got. If we keep those boys injury free, we should be okay. We’re going to rotate them so we get them some rest.”

The Rebels open Friday night in a nonleague contest against Bellarmine-Jefferson at North Hollywood High.

Like the Rebels, Bellarmine-Jefferson is facing trouble with numbers. The Guards dropped their junior varsity program due to a lack of players.

“I think it is going to be a good test for our boys. I think they are going to see that with a small team that everyone is going to have to rely on each other,” Harrison said. “It is not going to be a one or two-man show. I have a feeling it is going to be a pretty smash-mouth game. They run a double wing. We like to bring it. I’m expecting a lot of hitting. I’m expecting a lot of intensity and I think the boys will be pleasantly surprised with what they come out with.”

Harrison said the Prep League race should be interesting this year as many teams in the league were hit hard by graduation. The Rebels' first league game is Oct. 7 against Webb.

“Most of the teams in our league have graduated anywhere from 10 to 19 seniors,” Harrison said. “We’re all going to have younger guys. It is going to be pretty competitive this year and next year.”