Robert Frith believed San Juan Hills possessed many qualities for a successful football program when he took the coaching reins on Feb. 5, 2018.

The previous coach, Aaron Flowers, laid a strong foundation, transforming a program that went 0-10 in 2011 into a league champion and a playoff qualifier in Division 2.

The football program produced the school’s catchy motto “Ride for the Brand” or RFTB, which encourages players to focus on team and school success rather than their own.

There was just one thing missing: A trip over the proverbial hump in the playoffs.

The Stallions had never made it past the quarterfinals in three chances. But all that changed this fall under Frith.

In his second season, he has guided the Stallions (10-3) to their first CIF-SS final. The San Juan Capistrano upstart will play at Loyola (6-6) on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Division 4 title game will be streamed on Fox Sports Prep Zone.

“I found a really good place,” Frith said this week of San Juan Hills. “Great kids. A good coaching staff. Great administrative support. (The success) is just a combination of being at the right place at the right time.”

While the playoff success is new to San Juan Hills, it’s not foreign to Frith. He guided El Toro to the Southwest Division final in 2011 with All-County quarterback Conner Manning.

The Chargers lost to Tustin and coach Myron Miller 35-28 at Angel Stadium.

Loyola is a five-time section champion but re-emerging under first-year coach Drew Casani. Former Orange Lutheran and Mission Viejo quarterback Brayden Zermeno is a player to watch for Cubs.

Frith’s teams at El Toro were known for their prolific passing attacks. The Chargers ran a no-huddle, spread attack that wasted little time between plays.

But this season, San Juan Hills’ offense has evolved into a more balanced attack.

Manning, the former Utah and Georgia State quarterback, has rejoined Frith as the Stallions’ first-year offensive coordinator.

Senior running back Austin Hogan has averaged 26 carries per game in the playoffs and enters Saturday with 1,372 yards and 18 TDs rushing.

Washington State-committed Joey Hobert (73 catches, 1,176 yards, 18 TDs) is the top target for junior quarterback Hudson Jones (2,411 yards, 35 TDs), but San Juan Hills is confident in its cast of receivers. The Stallions used Hobert as a decoy at times in a 29-28 victory in overtime at Paramount in the semifinals.

San Juan Hills also is becoming known for its defense under coordinator Pete Silvey.

Recent Utah commit Tyler Wegis, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound defensive end, leads the team with 10.5 sacks. Linebacker Jake Hall (100 tackles) and safety Hobert (95 tackles, four interceptions) help anchor the unit.

“You got to adapt to your personnel,” Frith said of his approach. “I believe in our kids. I believe in our staff. Us being here (in the finals) is a testament of everything. … I think this school has definitely grown up in a sense.”