Photos by Tim Lunney and game info/stats from Harry Joe
Football:
The magical and historic 2024 season has finally come to an end for the Rio Hondo Prep football program.
Vanden stopped RHP running back Noah Penunuri just short of the goal line on a 2-point attempt in overtime to defeat RHP, 42-41, at Long Beach City College.
The Kares had a chance late in regulation in the CIF State Division 3A final on Saturday night, but a field goal attempt was no good.
After the Vikings scored on their first possession in overtime and made the extra-point attempt, Noah Penunuri rumbled in from two yards out.
One might wonder why RHP went for the 2-point conversion instead of heading to a second overtime period.
And the answer is simple.
Mark Carson is an aggressive coach, he sticks to guns, and it has paid off to the tune of consecutive CIF-SS (D-9 & D-7) championships in 2023 and 2024.
The stats were about as close as the final score.
Vanden had a two-yard advantage (399-397) in total offense, and they edged the Kares in first downs, 21-18.
Neither program turned the ball over.
Rio Hondo Prep out-rushed VHS, 382-34, and the Vikings had a 365-15 advantage through the air.
RHP had a seven-minute edge in the time of possession battle, and they were flagged six times for 31 yards, as compared to nine penalties levied against Vanden for 77 yards.
Noah Penunuri put the Kares on his back, as he throughout the postseason.
The Rio Hondo Prep junior carried the ball 38 times for 232 yards and five scores.
Penunuri had TD runs of 62, 2, 1, 14 and 2 yards.
Nate Curtis, who has played a major role for the two-time champs, rushed for 138 yards on 15 carries.
Caeden Holcomb had a 1-yard TD run late in the second quarter, and he finished with 12 yards on four carries.
After Holcomb scored, RHP had the game’s biggest lead of the night for either program (21-13).
Kalani Mcleod dissected the Kares ‘D’ with 365 passing yards.
Mcleod completed 26 of his 36 pass attempts, including three TDs through the air and he rushed for a 5-yard TD with 16 seconds to play in the first half.
Zach Tayeh carried the ball 12 times for 34 yards, including a pair of 1-yard TD runs.
Chris Clark caught 10 passes for 156 yards, and Logan Bailey had four receptions for 91 yards.
Nate Curtis had a game-high eight tackles, while his twin brother, Josh Curtis tallied four tackles.
If Penunuri didn’t do his part and then some on the offensive side of the ball, he also totaled seven tackles on defense, including a sack.
Holcomb had six tackles, Calogero Chico four, Elijah Gavia four and one sack, and Rainn Pollock finished with three tackles.
Ivan Tkach sacked Mcleod and had two tackles.
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Box Score:
V: 13-8-7-7-7-(42)
R: 7-14-7-7-6-(41)
Scoring:
V: Zach Tayeh 1 run (kick failed)
R: Noah Penunuri 62 run (Marco Chan kick)
V: Jaishon East 6 pass from Kalani Mcleod (Anthony Claytor kick)
R: Caeden Holcomb 1 run (Marco Chan kick)
V: Kalani Mcleod 5 run (Mcleod to East pass)
R: Noah Penunuri 1 run (Marco Chan kick)
V: Chris Clark 13 pass from Kalani Mcleod (Anthony Claytor kick)
R: Noah Penunuri 14 run (Marco Chan kick)
V: Zach Tayeh 1 run (Anthony Claytor kick)
V: KJ Davis 8 pass from Kalani Mcleod (Anthony Claytor kick)
R: Noah Penunuri 2 run (run failed)
Records: Vanden (13-2); Rio Hondo Prep (13-2)
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Photos by Tim Lunney and game info/stats from Harry Joe Football: The magical and historic 2024 season has finally come to an end for the Rio Hondo Prep football program. Vanden stopped RHP running back Noah Penunuri just short of the goal line on a 2-point attempt in overtime to defeat RHP, 42-41, at Long […]
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