Game info by Harry Joe & photos by Jeff Serpa & Tim Lunney
Football:
Rio Hondo Prep continues to make history.
The Kares cruised to a 35-6 victory over La Serna in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs.
Thanks to Centennial Corona knocking off Mater Dei (28-27), RHP is the lone southern section program heading into next weekend with a chance of winning a third consecutive CIF championship.
The Kares have now won 11 consecutive CIF-SS playoff games in Divisions 9, 7 and 5, respectively.
Unlike the last couple of weeks, Rio Hondo Prep distributed the wealth kindly.
Five separate Kares scored on Friday night at West Covina High School.
RHP took a 14-0 lead, and the contest was never in doubt.
Rio Hondo Prep had a 401-268 advantage in total offense, and a 307-135 edge on the ground.
Yanick Diaz completed 4-of-4 for 94 yards.
That included a pair of TD passes and no turnovers.
With approximately five minutes gone by, Diaz connected with Christian Lee on a 13-yard pass to give the Kares a 7-0 lead.
Diaz would close out the half with a 37-yard TD pass to Elias Har.
Diaz also gained 32 yards on three carries.
Noah Penunuri had a game-high 94 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Penunuri’s 1-yard TD in the second quarter gave RHP a 14-0 lead.
Calogero Chico scored on a 29-yard TD run at the 2:01 mark of the third period.
Deven Gomez rumbled in from one yard out late in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Gomez finished with 27 yards on five carries.
Lee gained 64 yards on nine carries, while Nathaniel Shine carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards.
Tyler Dang had a 30-yard reception and Shine caught one pass for 14 yards.
Rainn Pollock had a team-high five tackles on Friday, including a sack.
Har picked a pass and returned it 33 yards to go with one tackle.
Isaac Guzman also had one tackle and a pick.
Aiden Delgadillo chipped in with three tackles.
Penunuri contributed three tackles, including a sack.
Ethan Lo provided three tackles in the win.
La Serna’s lone score came on a 57-yard TD run by Jordan Bonilla in the second quarter.
Grady Long led the Lancers with 58 yards on 11 carries.
Long completed 10-of-24 for 133 yards and the two picks.
Rhyen Ramirez totaled 64 receiving yards on five carries.
Landon Armenta caught three passes for 55 yards.
No stat was more indicative of RHP’s stranglehold quite like the 35-13 advantage in the time of possession battle.
In the last two weeks, Rio Hondo Prep’s defense has held Troy (35) and La Serna (20) to a combined 55 points under their weekly scoring average.
Up next: The Kares travel to Redondo Union next Friday at 7 with the D-5 title at stake.
The Sea Hawks (9-4) secured a 21-7 victory at Loyola.
RHP entered the week ranked 77th in the state by MaxPreps, while Redondo Union sits at 153rd.
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Box Score:
LSHS: 0-6-0-0-(6)
RHP: 7-14-7-7-(35)
Scoring:
R: Christian Lee 13 pass from Yanick Diaz (Easton Jara kick)
R: Noah Penunuri 1 run (Easton Jara kick)
L: Jordan Bonilla 57 run (kick failed)
R: Elias Har 37 pass from Yanick Diaz (Easton Jara kick)
R: Calogero Chico 29 run (Easton Jara kick)
R: Deven Gomez 1 run (Easton Jara kick)
Records: La Serna (9-4); Rio Hondo Prep (13-0)
CIF Division 5 Playoffs:
11/7: RHP 50, Thousand Oaks 34
11/14: RHP 28, Troy 0
11/21: RHP 35, La Serna 6
11/28: RHP at Redondo Union
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