Lighthouse Christian goes to quarterfinal 8-man football -- with only 9 guys

Nobody expected Lighthouse to make playoffs in 2013.

Sure, they had six seniors toughened by four years of high school football. But at the beginning of the season, they could barely patch together nine guys for an 8-man sport.

Every team they faced had twice as many players (some had thrice). Every opposing school had a bigger talent pool to draw from (LCA has 45 students). Every team could throw on fresh legs when Lighthouse Christian Academy could only hunker down, grit their teeth and conjure strength and speed while running on fumes.

“I started this year feeling like it was going to be a failure,” said team captain Joseph Kayne. “It was going to be pointless.”

But after suffering drubbing after drubbing last year (LCA went 1-7), these kids decided to show Lighthouse pluck. After losing last year lopsided games 50+ to 7, it seemed these seniors craved revenge. They took to the field trying to prove something.

On Friday, the boys who believed face Cuyama Valley High School in quarterfinal playoff. Will David continue to topple Goliath?

Lighthouse’s football program gained renowned under founding Coach Rob Scribner, a former L.A. Rams player, who now pastors the Lighthouse Church in Santa Monica, which oversees LCA.

In 1997, Coach George Neos, a former college football coach, took over, and LCA placed second in CIF Southern Section. At halftime in the final, they were losing only 19-12. Then they lost their grip on the game and lost 45-28.

In 2000, a 9-player Lighthouse team went to semifinals and were winning 28-0 by halftime. In the third quarter, Lighthouse suffered a melt down. Andrew Czer dislocated his shoulder. Three kids got side-lined by severe cramps.

The loss was bitter disappointment. Still, they were proud to have gone so far.

Against this backdrop, 2013 was not heralded as the year to rediscover Lighthouse glory. Most expected the under-manned team to limp inexorably through, maybe a bit better than last year.

“When we won our first game 56-27, I thought, ‘Well, that was our easy game,’” Joseph said. (Last year, there was only one easy game.)

Lighthouse won its second game surprising the formidable Liberty Christian.

“Lighthouse football is back!” roared LCA’s current coach, Justin Kayne (Joseph’s older brother), after that game.

In its third game, Lighthouse swept aside rivals Rolling Hills Preparatory 41-15. In its fourth game, the Saints plastered Hillcrest Christian 46-0.

For its fifth season game, Lighthouse played its best game so far but was simply overpowered by Upland Christian 22-28. The opposing coach praised Lighthouse for level of competition it presented to his team.

Then, Lighthouse faced Frederick Price High School, a long-stranding rival they hadn’t beaten in four years. Outnumber, the Saints outwitted and overpowered their opponents 18-16.

“That was awesome,” Joseph said. “I was super happy about the way the guys showed their strength. We showed what we can really do.”

A 35-7 victory over Cornerstone Christian completed their regular season.

Already, the 2013 edition of Lighthouse football has written their names into Saints history. But will the team that pulls resources out of the black hat continue to defy the odds on Friday?