On Friday, September 11, Flashes defeated Grace High School, defending CIF champions, 62–34. Above, Flashes varsity players make a tackle against Grace. Below, a Flashes player makes the catch and scores. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola. The Flashes face Carpinteria this week. JV plays Thursday, September 17, at 5 p.m. Varsity will host Senior Night Friday, September 18, with ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m. Come support the Flashes as they celebrate their seniors!
On Friday, September 11, Fillmore defeated defending CIF Grace champions. Above, FHS varsity player No. 3 raises his hand in celebration after scoring a touchdown during Friday night’s game. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
Above, two Flashes players team up to take down a Grace player during Friday night’s game. Fillmore defeated Grace 62–34. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
By FHS Head Football Coach Charlie Weis, M. Ed.
FILLMORE — Nobody outside the Flashes’ own locker room gave them a chance.
Every local outlet, every sports reporter, every preseason prediction had Fillmore losing to defending CIF champion and undefeated Grace on Friday night. The Flashes read every word of it — and then went out and made the Lancers pay for it.
From the opening whistle, Fillmore stormed out to a commanding lead and never looked back, dismantling Grace’s high-flying attack on both sides of the ball enroute to a 62-34 statement win.
Defense Sets the Tone
The Flashes’ defense refused to let Grace’s vaunted passing game breathe all night. Juniors David Williams and James Magana led the charge with 9 tackles apiece, while Christian Renteria and Matthew Zavala each brought down the Lancers’ quarterback for a sack, disrupting the rhythm of Grace’s aerial assault time and again.
The signature play of the night belonged to Stephen Torres, who slammed the door on a Grace scoring threat with a jaw-dropping 48-yard interception return out of his own end zone — instantly flipping momentum and snuffing out what could have been a back-breaking drive for Fillmore.
An Electric Night on Offense
If the defense set the tone, the offense turned it into a show. The Flashes piled up 547 total yards and 8 touchdowns in a full team effort.
Senior quarterback Nate Perez was nearly unstoppable through the air, completing 11 of 15 passes for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns spread across four different targets:
A 71-yard bomb to Andrew Estrada
A 41-yard strike to Saul Fraga-Sandoval
A 51-yard connection with Stephen Torres
A 38-yard score to Rocky McDowell
On the ground, Micah Harm was just as dangerous, pounding out 148 yards and 3 touchdowns of his own to keep Grace’s defense off balance all night. Senior Michael Sandoval punched in the Flashes’ final offensive score of the evening.
Special Teams Seal It
Once again, special teams proved to be a difference-maker for Fillmore. In the final quarter, senior Andrew Estrada turned in a monster performance in the return game, racking up 140 kickoff return yards, highlighted by a backbreaking 90-yard touchdown return that put the game out of reach and sealed the win over the Lancers.
It’s the latest example of special teams swinging a big game for the Flashes, who continue to find new ways to make explosive plays when it matters most.
Swagger Restored
With their confidence, and their swagger, fully restored, Fillmore has just one non-league game remaining before turning its attention to league play. The win over a program as decorated as Grace is a signature moment for a team that spent the week hearing it couldn’t be done.
Up Next
The Flashes turn their focus to a longtime rivalry as they host the Carpinteria Warriors.
JV: Thursday, 9/17 — 5:00 PM
Varsity Senior Night: Friday, 9/18 — ceremonies at 6:30 PM, kickoff at 7:00 PM
Come out and support the Flashes as they celebrate their seniors and look to keep the momentum rolling.
