Thanks to Harry Joe for the stats, David Guerrero for the video & Tim Lunney for the photos
Football:
Rio Hondo Prep fans have been spoiled over the last couple of seasons.
Their favorite program led the SGV in total offense in 2023 and 2024, and that resulted in consecutive CIF-SS titles.
One might expect the Kares to score 40-50 points a night, which they did nine times in 2024.
However, no program is able to evade a talented and deep graduating class from the season before.
And while Friday night’s season opener was described as ugly and undisciplined, the bottom line always is scoreboard.
RHP would outlast their visitors from Schurr, 20-9.
It was their lowest point total since December 2nd of 2023.
But to be fair to the Kares and Spartans, the officials played a significant role in the game lacking any sort of rhythm.
Rio Hondo Prep and Schurr combined to be flagged a staggering 27 times for 222 yards.
SHS took a 3-0 lead when Robert Olivares booted a 37-yard field goal midway through the first quarter.
With 44 seconds to play in the first half, Elias Har caught a 36-yard scoring strike from Yanick Diaz.
After a missed extra-point attempt, the Kares took a 6-3 lead into the break.
RHP got a 63-yard TD run in the third period from Calogero Chico, and Tyler Dang sprinted 50 yards to paydirt in the fourth to boost the RHP advantage to 20-3.
Schurr’s final points of the night came on a 6-yard TD pass from Jacob Torres with 3:20 remaining in the contest.
Rio Hondo Prep narrowly edged the Spartans in the time of possession battle, 23:13-21:15.
They also had statistical advantages in first downs (16-11), rushing (184-62) and total offense (246-176).
Chico carried the ball nine times for a game-high 118 yards.
The 210 Prep Sports two-time Football Player of the Year, Noah Penunuri, had just 10 yards rushing on five carries.
He entered the contest needing just 84 yards to surpass the 4,000-yard mark.
Penunuri was taken out of the game at the 10:25 mark of the second quarter as a result of a targeting penalty by Schurr.
Dang had the one carry for the 50-yard TD.
Christian Lee gained 26 yards on seven carries.
Diaz completed 4-of-8 for 62 yards and the one TD.
Har caught a pair of passes for 42 yards.
Torres completed 8-of-19 for 99 yards, and he was picked by RHP’s Adrian Mendoza.
Mateo Carrasco led the Spartans ground game with 35 yards on 14 carries.
Aguila had game highs in receptions (4) and receiving yards (49) in the loss.
Lee had a game-high six tackles for the Kares, while Rainn Pollock, Nathaniel Shine and Troy Seco tallied five tackles apiece.
Elijas Gavia totaled four tackles.
Shine and Pollock had one sack apiece for the RHP defense.
Up next: The Kares will host Quartz Hill next Friday at 7.
The Royals (0-1) were on the wrong end of a 31-0 decision against their visitors from Mission Hills.
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Box Score:
S: 3-0-0-6-(9)
R: 0-6-6-7-(20)
Scoring:
S: Robert Olivares 37 FG
R: Elias Har 36 pass from Yanick Diaz (kick failed)
R: Calogero Chico 63 run (Easton Jara kick)
R: Tyler Dang 50 run (Easton Jara kick)
S: Caesar Aguila 27 pass from Jacob Torres (pass failed)
Records: Schurr (0-1); Rio Hondo Prep (1-0)
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