LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE — The California School for the Deaf-Riverside football team found itself in unfamiliar territory when the fourth quarter started. When the final seconds ticked off the clock, however, the Cubs once again found themselves on the receiving end of CIF Southern Section championship plaque. California School for the Deaf-Riverside players and coaches celebrate after defeating Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Head coach Keith Adams of California School for the Deaf-Riverside holds up the Championship plaque after his team defeated Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against California School for the Deaf-Riverside at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Kaden Adams #5 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside runs the ball in the third quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against California School for the Deaf-Riverside at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) John Battaglia #6 of Flintridge Prep is tackled in the first quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against California School for the Deaf-Riverside at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Players from California School for the Deaf-Riverside hold up the championship plaque and the number 3 after defeating Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Players from the California School for the Deaf-Riverside cheer after defeating Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Players from the California School for the Deaf-Riverside eye the crowd as they enter the field prior to a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep runs the ball past California School for the Deaf-Riverside defenders for a touchdown in the second quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Darius Zarembka #15 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside runs the ball in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Darius Zarembka #15 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside runs for yards in the second quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Players from the California School for the Deaf-Riverside rush to the sideline after blocking a field goal by Flintridge Prep in the final seconds of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside tips the ball into the hands of Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep resulting in a touchdown during CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 and Darius Zarembka #15 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside do backflips after defeating Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep makes a catch in the second half of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against California School for the Deaf-Riverside at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Ray Cabrera #1 of Flintridge Prep runs the ball for a first down in the second quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside reaches out to catch the football for a touchdown over the head of Flintridge Prep defenders during a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Isaiah Baxter-Davis #3 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside attempts to catch the ball over Ray Cabrera #1 of Flintridge Prep in the second quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) California School for the Deaf-Riverside blocks a field goal by Flintridge Prep in the final seconds of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Head coach Keith Adams of California School for the Deaf-Riverside communicates with his players during CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside reaches for the ball over the heads of Ray Cabrera #1 and Andrew Battaglia #4 of Flintridge Prep in the first quarter CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) California School for the Deaf-Riverside assistant coach holds up the Championship plaque when talking with the team after defeating Flintridge Prep in the CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Will Grable #5 of Flintridge Prep scores a touchdown after catching a tipped ball off of Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside (not pictured) during CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside catches the ball for a touchdown to take the lead over Flintridge Prep in the fourth quarter of a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) California School for the Deaf-Riverside players sign to one another during a timeout during CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game against Flintridge Prep at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Gio Visco #2 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside dives over a Flintridge Prep player during CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Xavier Gamboa #25 of California School for the Deaf-Riverside hugs head coach head coach Keith Adams after a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter to keep the lead and defeat Flintridge Prep in the CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 28California School for the Deaf-Riverside players and coaches celebrate after defeating Flintridge Prep in a CIF Southern Section 8-Person Division 1 football championship game at Flintridge Prep High School in La Canada on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer) Expand CSDR scored 14 unanswered points and then withstood a final charge from its opponent to pull out a 44-42 victory in the 8-Person Division 1 championship game. The Cubs brought home the program’s third consecutive section title, adding another chapter to a remarkable story that has garnered attention across the globe. “This is the best game of them all. We had to really fight for this one,” CSDR coach Keith Adams said through American Sign Language interpreter Mark Bayarsky. Flintridge Prep (9-1) appeared in control when Asher Jones tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Will Grable on fourth down to give the Wolves a 42-30 lead with a little more than a minute remaining in the third quarter. It marked the first time this season CSDR faced a deficit heading into the final 12 minutes of play. CSDR (11-0) made things interesting when Kaden Adams threw an 11-yard touchdown to Darius Zarembka with 9:15 remaining. Adams added the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 42-38. Flintridge Prep looked to answer, but Grable had the ball stripped away and CSDR recovered the loose ball with 6:48 showing on the clock. The ensuing drive did not start well for the Cubs, as Gio Visco was tackled for a 4-yard loss on first down and then he dropped a pass on second down. Adams found Zarembka for a 16-yard gain that moved the chains. Adams then punished Flintridge Prep’s defense by running the ball six consecutive times for a total of 29 yards. CSDR faced third-and-10, and Visco redeemed himself by catching a 15-yard pass from Adams to help the Cubs take the lead with 1:25 left to play. Adams capped his prep career in style, completing 17 of 24 passes for 241 yards and four touchdowns while adding 137 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. “We finished in good form,” said Adams, the youngest son of CSDR’s head coach. “We just never gave up tonight. We kept playing hard and found a way to win.” CSDR had to endure a some nervous moments down the stretch. Grable, who scored five touchdowns in the game, scrambled for a 17-yard gain on fourth-and-8 to move the ball past midfield. Flintridge Prep lined up for a 30-yard field goal in the waning seconds, but that kick by Joseph Kearns sailed well left of the uprights. “You kind of had the feeling like the team with the ball at the end might win tonight,” Flintridge Prep coach Russell White said. “We had a chance with that field goal try, but things just didn’t go our way. We executed everything the way we wanted to during that final drive except for the last couple of plays.” Kaden Adams took the final snap and dropped to a knee, and the hundreds of CSDR fans who made the trip joined the team on the field to celebrate the victory. CSDR is just the fourth football team from Riverside County or San Bernardino County to win three straight section championships. The Cubs joined the likes of Bloomington (1996-1999), Joshua Springs (2009-2012) and Centennial (2012-15). CSDR had never won a section title in any sport prior to this three-peat. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” said Zarembka, who caught eight passes for 149 yards Friday night. “We believed in ourselves and showed a lot of determination tonight.” CSDR has reached the finals in four straight seasons. The 74-22 loss to Faith Baptist in the first championship game helped shape the program, Keith Adams said. “That really impacted our players,” said Adams, whose second stint as CSDR’s coach ended Friday night. “We were humiliated that night, but we turned that into a learning experience. If we would have won that first game, I’m not sure if we win two or three more. Our program got tougher and better because of that loss.” The teams traded the lead five times during the second quarter. Flintridge Prep took a 27-24 lead into the locker room, with the difference between the teams being execution on conversions. CSDR was 0-4 on its 2-point-conversion tries in the first half. Flintridge Prep had one successful 2-point conversion and one extra point. Related Articles High School Sports | Murrieta Valley football survives Oaks Christian to reach CIF Division 2 title game High School Sports | La Serna football cruises past Summit in CIF-SS Division 5 semifinal High School Sports | Centennial football falls to No. 1 Mater Dei in CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals High School Sports | Warren football overpowers Yucaipa to clinch spot in Division 7 title game High School Sports | Julius Gillick, Edison football run over Vista Murrieta to reach CIF Division 3 title game Grable led the way for the Wolves, catching six passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns while adding 44 yards and two more touchdowns on his nine carries. “He has always been a man amongst boys,” White said of the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior receiver and linebacker. “I’m honored to be a small part of his large world.” Jones completed 12 of 18 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns for Flintridge Prep. Ray Cabrera returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the opening half. Visco caught seven passes for 69 yards and added 31 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Isaiah Baxter-Davis caught two of Adams’ touchdown passes.