Erik Boal
It was supposed to be their finest hour.
For the individuals who comprise the defensive unit on the
Flintridge Prep football team -- especially starting linebackers
Jesse Fleece, Eric Sarkissian, Matt Stein and Matt Tappin -- Oct. 25
was finally going to be their opportunity to prove they were the
class of not only the Prep League, but all of CIF Southern Section
Division XIII.
Fleece, Sarkissian, Stein and Tappin possessed the ideal
combination of speed, intelligence and experience to slow down rival
Pasadena Poly, especially having contributed to a defensive effort
that had yielded only 43 points in six games entering the
long-awaited battle of two of the division's elite programs.
But after 48 minutes, during which the Rebels gave up 283 yards in
a 28-14 loss, the aforementioned quartet walked off the field at
Duarte High with their confidence shaken, knowing they'd likely have
to wait seven long weeks to earn a possible rematch with the
Panthers.
"That was kind of an insult to our defense," said Tappin, a
16-year-old junior, who has a team-leading 103 tackles and four
sacks.
"But we decided it's not going to happen again."
Fortunately for defensive coordinator Tom Fry, Coach Marty Konrad
and everyone else associated with the Rebel program, Tappin and his
teammates have remained true to their word, yielding just 22 points
in three games since their lone loss entering tonight's quarterfinal
contest against North Hollywood Campbell Hall (6-5) at 7:30 p.m. at
Van Nuys Birmingham High.
"Our defense doesn't measure success in wins and losses," said
Tappin, who had 12 tackles in Saturday's 43-16 opening-round victory
against Temecula Linfield Christian.
"We look at it by whether or not they score any points."
With the leadership and veteran presence of Fleece, the flawless
pursuit and fundamental execution of Sarkissian, Tappin's exceptional
combination of speed and power, and Stein's versatility, third-seeded
Flintridge Prep (9-1) has surrendered an area-low 9.3 points per game
entering its rematch with the Vikings, who Konrad's squad beat,
21-14, in a Sept. 27 nonleague contest.
"Those guys give us a lot of flexibility," said Konrad, whose
linebackers have benefited from the presence of a dependable
defensive line, led by senior Jeff Yun, and a consistent secondary,
featuring senior Mike Gadel.
"Their speed and versatility is what helps us the most. But lets
give credit to the defensive line, because they allow [the
linebackers] to make plays."
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