Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

While speaking to high school and college coaches (of all sports) over the last couple of decades, the first ingredient to a highly successful season is obviously talent.

Most of those leaders, however, also say there is one key addition necessary to up the experience from successful to champions.

And that’s chemistry.

That ‘family’ or ‘brotherhood,’ where each player accepts their individual role for the better good.

The knowledge that every player and coach has a part to do in order for that group to blossom together.

You know it when you see it.

A star gets pulled from a game because, for that one day, he just doesn’t have it.

But when his replacement succeeds, he’s the happiest guy on the sideline, because it’s about ‘us’ and not ‘me.’

As a writer since 2000, I hear it all the time that, ‘we’re a family here at,’ and then name the school or sport.

In my cases, it’s true.

To this day, I’ve never witnessed a tighter bond between athletes and coaches over a longer period of time, past and present, than the Northview High School wrestling program.

NHS has been through it all, from individual state champions to CIF team championships.

Sadly, on a number of occasions, the Northview wrestling family has also rallied around one another when one of their athletes or parents passes away before their time.

With that said, there is this little school on the south side of Arcadia that is really making waves of late.

Rio Hondo Prep has just 183 students at their school, and only 120 of those are grades 9-12.

Over the last four years, Mark Carson’s football program has achieved phenomenal success.

The Kares are 31-6 over that stretch.

They’ve enjoyed an 86-percent win ratio, and from 2019-2022, RHP has outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 1,314-318.

Without question, the high-water mark for the program or signature victory was in the first round of the 2021 CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs at Charter Oak.

The Kares were outnumbered mightily, but because of their discipline and the success of their run game, RHP defeated the Chargers, 37-30.

The key stat in that game was a 20-minute RHP advantage in time of possession.

Rio Hondo Prep rarely has guys you’ll see on TV playing NCAA Division 1 football, and that’s something that makes their success all the more impressive.

Just this past season, Ryan McCulloch bucked the trend, and thanks to his beast-like skills and immense character,  McCulloch will spend the next four years in Berkeley playing for the Golden Bears.

Aside from that, RHP fields a small roster of young men who come from great families.

They work their (butts) off from the day they set foot on that campus until they leave with a diploma.

They’re never going to have more raw talent on the field than an opponent, so how are they able to have so much success?

It all revolves around their work ethic, discipline and character.

But what puts them over the top is their family-like atmosphere, and a chemistry you just can’t coach.

The effort that Carson and his staff put into making RHP a real family-like atmosphere is both vital and inspiring.

A perfect example is the 26-day trip around the United States that concluded just one week ago.

And it wasn’t just an exercise in team bonding.

It was, according to Carson, an opportunity for their student-athletes to experience some of the most iconic and historical sites this country has to offer.

Another purpose of the mission was to show the boys how lucky they are to live in the United States, and to never forget the sacrifices made by those who came before us.

To make sure there were no distractions, none of the 44 boys (35 football players) from RHP were permitted to bring their phones.

They spent time in New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio and Illinois.

RHP began their five-day stay in Florida at an Orlando resort.

They would go on to spend two days in a Times Square hotel, four nights at campgrounds and the rest were either at schools or churches.

Rio Hondo Prep went to Universal Studios Orlando, which is said to be 10 times bigger than the Universal Studios we have here in California.

They also did a football camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

In New York, RHP enjoyed their two days in Times Square and visited Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial and took in a Yankees game.

They walked the battlefield in Gettysburg, which is where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address and a location that turned the tide in the Civil War.

In Washington DC, RHP saw the Lincoln, Washington, Korean War, 9/11, WWII, Vietnam and MLK memorials.

Additionally, they watched a sunset parade at Iwojima, and were impressed with the playing of the USMC band and a silent drill team.

They took in a Pittsburgh Pirates game and visited the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Carson said one of the great things that came out of this experience was the closeness that was fostered on this trip.

But just as important, he said, was the way in which the boys talked through any frustrations they may have temporarily had while spending all that time together.

Carson said he was proud of the way his boys sought out interactions with strangers of all backgrounds, and he was just as grateful for the way he and the RHP students were treated throughout the month-long adventure.

One might wonder how all of this was paid for, and the answer is that each boy had over a year to raise $3,000.

Next year, the RHP girls will be making a similar trip to Europe.

Carson said it was educational, fun and it allowed them the time together to strengthen their relationship with God.

RHP will open its 2023 season six weeks from tonight, as they travel to San Diego to battle Francis Parker.

Just below are the thoughts of three (Joshua Taflinger, Nate Curtis & Colby Johnson) RHP football players.

And directly below that is a link to a photo gallery and an interview that Matt Heersema from A Charge to Keep had with Coach Carson.

Quotable:

RHP senior, Colby Johnson: “The trip was a great opportunity to get closer to my teammates, and most importantly, it helped me get closer to God through the daily devotions. It also built on good habits like making our beds and staying organized. My favorite part of the trip was when we went to Cedar Point because the rides there are some of the best in the US and we were able to see one of the Great Lakes right next to the park.”

RHP senior, Joshua Taflinger: “This year’s summer trip was an experience of a lifetime. Many schools talk about brotherhood but they haven’t experienced brotherhood on the level we have. As a team, we ate 78 straight meals together, and spent so much time together. We got to know each other as well and our families do. We know our strengths and weaknesses and we pushed each other the whole time to make each other stronger. Not only did we get closer to our teammates, but we also got closer to our coaches. We gained a huge trust for our coaches and got to know them way more than a whole season of practices would allow. They gave up their summers with their families and it was a huge dedication on their part. My favorite part of the trip was our stay in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This was my favorite spot because it’s a beautiful area and we were able to tour the battlefield where. There were so many amazing places and experiences we got to have with each other. The whole summer trip is something I’m definitely never gonna forget.”

RHP junior, Nate Curtis: “The trip presented a unique chance for us to grow as a team and individually as Christians. Orlando was my favorite part of the trip. It was fun because of the basketball and fishing that I was able participate in with my teammates at the resort, and of course Universal Studios.”

RHP Football, 2019-2022:
2022: 8-2 overall, 2-1 in Gold Coast League
2021: 10-2, 2-1 in Gold Coast League
2020: 3-0, 0-0
2019: 10-1, 3-0 in Prep League
Totals: 31-5 overall, 9-3 in league

RHP Points Scored & Allowed, 2019-2022:
2022:303-129
2021: 502-189
2020: 100-15
2019: 409-114

To view a photo gallery, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook