With its playoff hopes teetering, wide receiver/running back Kory Hamane stepped up to make the two biggest plays of the season for the Flintridge Prep football team Friday night.
They came on consecutive plays and helped keep Flintridge Prep’s postseason hopes alive on its final drive.
Hamane caught a fourth-down pass and then scored on a 10-yard run with 1:29 left to give Flintridge Prep a 24-21 Prep League victory against Webb at Occidental College.
The Rebels improved to 2-5 and 1-2 in league with two league matches remaining. Webb fell to 4-4 and 2-1.
The Rebels, who snapped their two-game losing streak, faced a fourth-and-four on Webb’s 32-yard line with 1:46 left. Flintridge Prep third-year Coach Perry Skaggs called a timeout.
On the next play, quarterback Kyle McDonald threw a 22-yard pass that was deflected by a Webb defender and fell into Hamane’s arms near the sideline.
Hamane then scored on a 10-yard run to cap a 62-yard drive and keep Flintridge Prep in the playoff hunt.
“I just happened to be there,” said Hamane, a sophomore. “I was running my route and saw that the pass was short and might be deflected. It came back to me and landed in my hands.
“On the touchdown, everybody on the line did their jobs. I saw a hole and was able to score.”
Webb had taken a 21-17 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by running back Jacob Waas with 4:10 remaining in the contest. The Rebels, who began league competition with losses to Rio Hondo Prep and Pasadena Poly, didn’t have any time to feel sorry for themselves after Waas put the Gauls ahead.
“We had time left,” Skaggs said. “On that fourth down, we ran an option route and looked to get something over the top, and sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
“Kory didn’t quit on the ball. On the touchdown, I liked him being able to run the sweep. We grew up today.”
Hamane put Flintridge Prep ahead 17-14 on a 17-yard touchdown run with 2:11 left in the third quarter. Webb had scored on its previous possession to make it 14-10 on a two-yard run by Waas with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
McDonald scored on a seven-yard run to give Flintridge prep a 10-7 lead with 3:09 remaining in the second quarter. The Rebels held a 10-7 halftime advantage.
Alex Holden kicked a 27-yard field goal to give Flintridge Prep a 3-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first quarter.
“It’s a big win for us,” said Hamane, who finished with 60 yards rushing in 10 carries and caught two passes for 37 yards. “It’s like we have been reborn.”
The Rebels will next take part in another league home game against Viewpoint at 7 p.m. Friday at Occidental College.
