Thanks to Harry Joe for the game info and stats
Football:
It might sound like a broken record.
However, to borrow lyrics from the great Canadian rock band, Rush, “a fact’s a fact from Nome to Rome.”
And the fact is that Rio Hondo Prep used their recipe for success in yet another CIF-SS playoff win.
The Kares had advantages in total offense (465-258), rushing (454-52), first downs (24-14) and perhaps the most important, a 34-14 edge in the time of possession battle.
RHP wore West Torrance down in a 42-21 semifinal-round victory.
Since 2023, the Kares are 7-0 in CIF-SS playoff games, including five road wins.
Noah Penunuri carried the ball 27 times for 187 yards.
Penunuri had TD runs of 1 and 60 yards.
Nate Curtis, the other half of the Rio Hondo Prep dynamic duo, went off for 137 yards on 13 carries.
Curtis scored on TD runs of 3, 4 and 31 yards.
Curtis also had a team-high six tackles for the RHP defense.
Caeden Holcomb missed the 100-yard rushing mark by just three yards, but he did score on a 13-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter.
Eli Brandt completed 12-of-26 for 206 yards, which included a 12-yard TD pass to Reef Sharman.
Brandt carried the ball seven times for 28 yards.
He scored on first-half TD runs of 1 and 5 yards, respectively.
Sharman attempted just one pass, and it was an interception.
Sharman had game-highs in receptions (6) and receiving yards (123).
Elijah Gavia had three tackles and an interception, and Elias Har totaled a pair of tackles and a pick.
Nathaniel Shine finished with four tackles.
Tyler Dang, Penunuri, Josh Curtis and Calogero Chico had three tackles apiece.
Up next: RHP will host Warren in next week’s D-7 final.
The Bears cruised to a 41-17 victory over Yucaipa.
Box Score:
W: 7-7-0-7-(21)
R: 7-21-7-7-(42)
Scoring:
R: Noah Penunuri 60 TD run (Marco Chan kick)
W: Eli Brandt 1 run (Cale Omanson kick)
R: Nate Curtis 3 run (Marco Chan kick)
W: Eli Brandt 5 run (Cale Omanson kick)
R: Noah Penunuri 1 run (Marco Chan kick)
R: Nate Curtis 4 run (Marco Chan kick)
R: Nate Curtis 31 run (Marco Chan kick)
W: Reef Sharman 12 pass from Eli Brandt (Cale Omanson kick)
R: Caeden Holcomb 13 run (Marco Chan kick)
Records: West Torrance (10-3); Rio Hondo Prep (11-1)
Boys Basketball: Damien has earned itself a spot in the Sunny Hills Basketball Tournament. After victories over Troy (80-41), Ontario Christian (68-39), Villa Park (70-42), the Spartans faced La Habra in a semifinal round contest. The writing was on the wall early, as DHS outscored LHHS, 17-0, in the first quarter, and they would cruise […]
Girls Athlete of the Week: What a week it was for the West Covina High School girls water polo program. The Bulldogs played four games in five days. WCHS defeated La Mirada (15-13), Pasadena (10-5) and Cerritos (15-4) before falling on Friday, 14-6, at the hands of St. Lucy’s. Over that stretch, WCHS junior Deneli […]
Pictured L-R: Nate Penunuri & Nate Curtis Boys Athletes of the Week: Noah Penunuri and Nate Curtis, the 2023 Football Players of the Year for this site, are up to their old tricks in 2024. During much of the regular season, the Kares blew opponents out, and that meant Penunuri and Curtis saw limited touches, […]
Photos and game info from Ryan Tomey Football: St. Francis’ quest for a CIF-SS Division 6 championship was thwarted by their visitors from Murrieta Mesa. The Rams found themselves in an 11-point hole in the first quarter at Jim Bonds Stadium. However, MMHS was able to edge SFHS, 31-28, after outscoring the Golden Knights, 28-14, […]
Thanks to Harry Joe for the game info and stats Football: It might sound like a broken record. However, to borrow lyrics from the great Canadian rock band, Rush, “a fact’s a fact from Nome to Rome.” And the fact is that Rio Hondo Prep used their recipe for success in yet another CIF-SS playoff […]
Photos by Carlo Montalbo (@Carlo.Montalbo on Instagram) Football: After the past two wins, you couldn’t blame Glendora or their fans if they believe in destiny. The Tartans opened with a 31-7 blowout victory at Agoura in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs. However, over the past two weeks, the Tartans have dug […]
Football: CIF-SS Semifinal Round Scores: Division 1: Mater Dei 36, Centennial Corona 7 St. John Bosco 20, Orange Lutheran 17 Division 2: Murrieta Valley 55, Oaks Christian 52 Newbury Park 20, Yorba Linda 14 Division 3: Edison 42, Vista Murrieta 14 Simi Valley 28, Loyola 25 Division 4: St. Bonaventure 20, Apple Valley 13 Pacifica […]
Girls Water Polo: West Covina is one victory away today from having a four-win week. The Bulldogs have defeated La Mirada (15-13), Pasadena (10-5) and Cerritos (15-4) on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Deneli Salazar continued her dominant week with eight goals. Meagan Harris chipped in with three goals. Marisa Lemus had quite the game […]
Girls Basketball: La Salle improved to 2-0 after its 52-26 victory at Keppel. The Lancers pulled away in the second quarter after outscoring the Aztecs, 15-0. Aislin Tamez Torres had a game-high 18 points. Casey Higgins chipped in with 14 points. Kaden Cortes and Julianne Tan provided six points apiece in Thursday’s win. Alyssa Canizal […]
