The evening before Redondo Union High School inducted its first class into its newly-founded Athletic Hall of Fame, the Sea Hawk football team gave its Homecoming crowd plenty to cheer about.
Redondo won a shootout against Peninsula in the Bay League opener for both teams, relying on the legs of quarterback Harrison Faecher in a 42-35 come-from-behind victory.
Faecher rushed for 270 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries and passed for an additional 41 yards. The three-year starter gave Redondo an early 7-0 lead scoring on a 74-yard run on the third play of the Sea Hawk’s first possession.
But it was Faecher’s 34-yard touchdown run with 7:45 left in regulation that gave Redondo a lead it would not relinquish.
“We had a simple power play called,” Faecher said. “I wasn’t sure if I or the running back (Stephon Sudduth) would get the ball. I saw the lane up the middle, kept it and scored. The coach wanted my to run the ball more this year and I just take what the defense gives me.”
In a see-saw battle, Redondo led 28-21 at halftime but Peninsula pulled ahead 35-28 with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Faecher tied the game with an 11-yard run with 10:46 remaining.
Redondo’s defense, which gave up 402 total yards and had trouble stopping Peninsula’s offense most of the game, stepped up when the Sea Hawks needed it most stifling the Panthers on two possessions in the fourth quarter.
Peninsula’s final drive stalled when quarterback Ian Escutia was flushed out of the pocket and threw a pass down the right sideline that was intercepted by Salesi Fifita with 1:54 left on the clock, sealing Redondo’s fourth win in a row.
“We did not expect that kind of game,” Faecher said. “But we did not want to lose on Homecoming, on our turf, and our guys buckled up and got the win. I have to give to our offensive line and our defense that really stepped up in the fourth quarter.”
“Credit goes to a physical Peninsula football team that moved the ball on us all night,” Ballard said. “Our defensive struggles were only alleviated by a solid Sea Hawk rushing attack. Harrison Faecher, Stephon Sudduth, Jamaal Perkins and Jonathan Allagoa all contributed to our running yardage.”
Perkins added 131 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and was named Redondo’s Defensive Player of the Game for his performance at the linebacker position.
Faecher was selected as Offensive Player of the Game, senior Keanu Capper was named Special Teams Player of the Game and senior running back Alfred Sablan earned Scout/Practice Player of the Week honors.
Redondo (5-1, 1-0) travels to West (5-1, 0-1) on Friday for a 7 p.m. contest. The Warriors will be looking to rebound from a 28-21 overtime loss at Mira Costa.
Faecher expects another shootout similar to last year’s meeting when Redondo pulled of a 34-31 victory.
“That’s always what we want, to score a lot of points and let our defense make the stops,” Faecher said. “West is a tough team. We’ll need to have a great week of practice.”
