Fulton Prep living its surprise rise to 8-man title game

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Fulton Prep is the little engine that could.

When the tiny Van Nuys school began its inaugural 8-man football season in September, only two of its 28 roster players had ever played organized football before. The roster includes a girl at wide receiver, junior Laura Becerra, and a one-armed lineman, freshman Andrew Avalos.

The team lost it’s first game, 60-6, and had to forfeit three of its first six games. Yet the fourth-seeded Jaguars (7-4) have won five straight, beat top-seeded View Park in the playoff semifinals, and meets third-seeded Annenberg (8-4) in the first ever City 8-man championship game Friday at Contreras High. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

‘When we lost that first game it looked bleak,’ Coach Sean Jackson said. ‘But the kids -- who didn’t know a first down from a touchdown when we started -- always believed. Our main goal this year was to get better each week. And it’s kind of sad the season is ending, because they are really learning how to play football.’

-- Mike Terry