Faith Baptist’s Path to Playoffs Blocked

Faith Baptist High Coach Harry Morgan wasn’t mincing words--his offense did not block, and his team did not win.

Pasadena Poly shut off Faith Baptist to 86 yards rushing and 36 passing to win, 19-0, in the first round Saturday of the Eight-Man Large School Conference football playoffs.

There was little conjecture to how Poly (8-1) had beaten Baptist (6-4).

“We couldn’t run the ball at all, so they just sat back and waited for us to throw,” Morgan said. “We can’t block offensively.”

Quarterback Todd Stadig of Faith Baptist--throwing under a lot of pressure--completed just 2 of 12 passes, and two were intercepted.

Poly defensive back Frank Grant picked off Stadig twice, the second setting up a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Vince Duffy. That came with 6:05 left in the game and all but secured a semifinal next week between third-seeded Poly and No. 1 Templeton.

“The quarterback has a weak arm, and he’s easy to read on out patterns. Our defense had pressure on him all day,” Grant said.

Running backs Jeoff Wilson, Kelsey Wilson and Mark Citron led Poly on offense, combining for 217 yards rushing. Kelsey Wilson scored two touchdowns.

Randy Lutz led Faith Baptist with 43 yards rushing on 17 carries, and Troy Prehmus ran for 40 yards on six carries.

Faith Baptist drove to the Poly 11-yard line on its first possession and gave up the ball on downs but did not advance past the Pasadena 26 thereafter.