Photo by Jeff Serpa
Football:
Of the more than 500 programs in the CIF Southern Section, Rio Hondo Prep is the only football team that enters the weekend with an opportunity of winning a third consecutive CIF-SS championship.
The Kares will make the 37-mile drive to Redondo Union High School on Saturday evening to compete in the Division 5 final.
In 2024, RHP defeated Warren (43-16) to secure a D-7 championship.
One year prior, the Kares outlasted their hosts from Santa Monica (29-27) to claim the Division 9 crown.
RHP is also the only CIF-SS program without a loss in 2025.
The Kares have D-5 playoff wins over Thousand Oaks (50-34), Troy (28-0) and La Serna (35-7) by a combined margin of 113-41.
The Seahawks earned a spot in Saturday’s title game thanks to postseason victories over Torrance (21-14), St. Paul (14-13) and Loyola (21-7).
On paper, Rio Hondo Prep has a number of statistical advantages over the Sea Hawks.
They’ve scored 202 more points and allowed 25 fewer points.
RHP has scored 35 or more points 10 times, as compared to just four for RUHS.
Since halftime of the first-round game at TOHS, RHP has outscored its postseason opponents by a margin of 91-13, and they’ve seen their defense play their best football of the season.
That included holding Troy (35) and La Serna (20) to a combined 55 points under their weekly scoring average.
And the icing on the cake was defensive lineman Elijah Gavia’s 26-yard pick-six at Thousand Oaks.
RHP has advantages in total offense (376-282), rushing (289-147) and they’re 51 spots higher than Redondo Union in the most recent MaxPreps state poll.
RUHS has a 135-87 advantage in passing yards.
The Sea Hawks quarterback, Cole Leinart, is the son of Heisman Trophy winner and NCAA D-1 National Champion at USC, Matt Leinart.
He’s completed 100-of-176 for 1,509 yards.
Leinart has tossed 13 TDs and five interceptions.
Yanick Diaz is having a remarkable season behind center for the Kares.
His 17 TD passes is the program’s best since Evan Foor threw for 21 TDs back in 2018.
Diaz is 50-of-95 for 942 yards.
He has a better than 3-to-1 TD-to-interception ratio.
It’s no secret that Noah Penunuri is every RHP opponent’s high-value target.
The most prolific running back in program history missed getting full-time carries for close to half of the 2025 season after a week-zero rib injury.
And yet Penunuri has rushed for 1,203 yards on 107 carries.
His 22 TD runs are five more than the top three running backs at Redondo Union combined.
But the Kares offense is far more than Noah Penunuri.
Nathaniel Shine (92-for-648 & 7 TDs), Christian Lee (71-for-565 & 6 TDs) and Deven Gomez (48-for-500 & 7 TDs) have been vital to Rio Hondo Prep’s success.
Bo Ausmus leads Redondo Union with 551 yards on 62 carries and nine TDs.
Christian Zeno (97-for-486 & 6 TDs) and Rocky Martinez (74-for-444 & 2 TDs) have been key in the Sea Hawks making a deep playoff run.
RUHS’ Tyler Harper (24-for-556 & 7 TDs), Adrian Ortiz (28-for-424 & 1 TD) and Bo Ausmus (7-for-262 & 5 TDs) lead the Redondo Union receiving corps.
Tyler Dang (12-for-253 & 4 TDs), Elias Har (9-for-203 & 6 TDs), Nathaniel Shine (8-for-176 & 2 TDs) and Rainn Pollock (6-for-122 & 2 TDs) have been the primary targets for Yanick Diaz in 2025.
Lincoln Esparza (72), Tyler Celis (67) and Brock Herrera (65) have combined for 202 tackles for the RUHS defense.
The RHP ‘D’ is paced by Christian Lee (66 tackles), Troy Seto (56), Rainn Pollock (43), Noah Penunuri (41), Ethan Lo (39) and Elijah Gavia (39).
Brock Herrera leads both programs with 6.5 sacks, while Nathaniel Shine’s 4.5 sacks leads the Kares.
Tyler Dang (RHP) and Santi De La Torre (RU) lead their programs with three interceptions apiece.
Elias Har, Christian Lee, Calogero Chico, Landon Scott and Adrian Mendoza have tallied two picks apiece for Rio Hondo Prep.
If RHP is to secure a third consecutive CIF-SS title on Saturday night, a strong case could be made that the 2026 graduating class is the best in the Arcadia school’s rich program history.
In 2023, 2024 and 2025 combined, the Kares are 39-4 with D-9 and D-7 championships.
They’ve won 11 consecutive CIF-SS D-9, D-7 and D-5 games.
And Rio Hondo Prep has 16 CIF-SS titles, including six in 11-man football.
That list includes championships in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2023 and 2024.
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By the Numbers:
Records: RHP (13-0); RU (9-4)
League Finish: RHP (Gold Coast champs); RU (second in Pioneer)
Points Scored: RHP (533); RU (331)
Points Allowed: RHP (198); RU (223)
Passing Yards Per Game: RHP (87); RU (135)
Rushing Yards Per Game: RHP (289); RU (147)
Total Offense Per Game: RHP (376); RU (282)
Most Points Scored in a Game: RHP (55 vs Santee); RU (58 vs South Torrance)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: RHP (34 vs Thousand Oaks); RU (34 vs Torrance)
RHP Road Record: 6-0
RU Home Record: 4-2
Current Win Streak: RHP (13); RU (7)
Average Margin of Victory: RHP (41-15); RU (25-17)
2024 Finish: RHP (D-7 champs); RU (D-4 quarterfinal loss to St. Bonaventure, 34-20)
MaxPreps State Ranking: RHP (66); RU (117)
Calpreps Projection: RHP 28, RUHS 21
Stat Leaders:
Quarterbacks:
Cole Leinart (RU): 100-of-176 for 1,509 yards, 13 TDs & 5 INT
Yanick Diaz (RHP): 50-of-95 for 942 yards, 17 TDs & 5 INT
Running Backs:
Noah Penunuri (RHP): 107-for-1,203 & 22 TDs
Nathaniel Shine (RHP): 92-for-648 & 7 TDs
Christian Lee (RHP): 71-for-565 & 6 TDs
Bo Ausmus (RU): 62-for-551 yards & 9 TDs
Deven Gomez (RHP): 48-for-500 & 7 TDs
Christian Zeno (RU): 97-for-486 & 6 TDs
Rocky Martinez (RU): 74-for-444 & 2 TDs
Receivers:
Tyler Harper (RU): 24-for-556 & 7 TDs
Adrian Ortiz (RU): 28-for-424 & 1 TD
Bo Ausmus (RU): 7-for-262 & 5 TDs
Tyler Dang (RHP): 12-for-253 & 4 TDs
Elias Har (RHP): 9-for-203 & 6 TDs
Nathaniel Shine (RHP): 8-for-176 & 2 TDs
Rainn Pollock (RHP): 6-for-122 & 2 TDs
Defensive Leaders:
Tackles:
Lincoln Esparza (RU): 72
Tyler Celis (RU): 67
Christian Lee (RHP): 66
Brock Herrera (RU): 65
Troy Seto (RHP): 56
Santi De La Torre (RU): 52
Rainn Pollock (RHP): 43
Noah Penunuri (RHP): 41
Ethan Lo (RHP): 39
Elijah Gavia (RHP): 39
Sacks:
Brock Herrera (RU): 6.5
Nathaniel Shine (RHP): 4.5
Mikey Ricardo (RU): 4
Rainn Pollock (RHP): 2.5
Ethan Lo (RHP): 2.5
Interceptions:
Tyler Dang (RHP): 3
Santi De La Torre (RU): 3
Christian Lee (RHP): 2
Elias Har (RHP): 2
Calogero Chico (RHP): 2
Landon Scott (RHP): 2
Adrian Mendoza (RHP): 2
Kyle Westbrook (RU): 2
Bo Ausmus (RU): 2
2025 Rio Hondo Prep Schedule/Results:
8/22: Rio Hondo Prep 20, Schurr 9
8/29: Rio Hondo Prep 28, Quartz Hill 21
9/4: Rio Hondo Prep 43, Maranatha 0
9/12: Rio Hondo Prep 49, Marquez 20
9/19: Rio Hondo Prep 36, Bellflower 7
9/26: Rio Hondo Prep 52, St. Anthony 17
10/3: Rio Hondo Prep 49, First Baptist 28
10/17: Rio Hondo Prep 41, Viewpoint 10
10/25: Rio Hondo Prep 47, Brentwood 29
10/30: Rio Hondo Prep 55, Santee 17
11/7: Rio Hondo Prep 50, Thousand Oaks 34
11/14: Rio Hondo Prep 28, Troy 0
11/21: Rio Hondo Prep 35, La Serna 6
11/29: Rio Hondo Prep at Redondo Union
Gold Coast League Standings:
Rio Hondo Prep (13-0, 2-0)
Brentwood (8-4, 1-1)
Viewpoint (8-4, 0-2)
2025 Redondo Union Schedule/Results:
8/29: El Dorado 31, Redondo Union 6
9/5: Mira Costa 31, Redondo Union 0
9/12: Huntington Beach 19, Redondo Union 17
9/19: Redondo Union 14, Orange 12
9/26: Redondo Union 35, Banning 6
10/3: Torrance 34, Redondo Union 24
10/10: Redondo Union 34, North Torrance 7
10/17: Redondo Union 47, Santa Monica 7
10/24: Redondo Union 40, Peninsula 21
10/30: Redondo Union 58, South Torrance 21
11/7: Redondo Union 21, Torrance 14
11/14: Redondo Union 14, St. Paul 13
11/21: Redondo Union 21, Loyola 7
11/29: Rio Hondo Prep at Redondo Union
Pioneer League Standings:
Torrance (10-1, 5-0)
Redondo Union (9-4, 4-1)
Santa Monica (8-5, 3-2)
North Torrance (6-5, 2-3)
Peninsula (1-9, 1-4)
South Torrance (3-7, 0-5)
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