Photos by Susan Coulter
Football:
Rio Hondo Prep has gotten used to the skeptics who disrespect their record and stats, because of a perceived soft schedule and an undersized roster of just 29 players.
On Friday night, though, the boys from Arcadia picked up a signature victory, defeating Charter Oak, 37-30, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs.
And in a game that featured 67 combined points, the visiting Kares trailed just once at 16-15 in the second quarter, when Charter Oak quarterback Vincent Farrar connected with Sam Mason on a 36-yard TD.
RHP regained the lead after Jonathan Guerrero’s 1-yard TD run with 1:48 to go in the first half.
The Kares extended their cushion to 30-16 just 37 seconds into the second half, as Damyan Diaz hit Ryan McCulloch on a 58-yard TD pass.
Guerrero’s 6-yard TD run with 2:59 to go in the third quarter gave RHP a 37-24 advantage, and the Kares defense did just enough to hold off the Chargers.
Guerrero gained 120 yards on 29 carries, and the RHP senior scored three TD’s.
Rio Hondo Prep’s ground game had a narrow 211-166 advantage over Charter Oak.
But it took RHP 52 carries, while the Chargers ran the ball just 19 times.
Zakkari Black had a game-high 164 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Black also had a pair of 55-yard TD runs.
Vincent Farrar, the son of head coach Dom Farrar, and grandson to the late great Lou Farrar, completed 8 of his 20 pass attempts for 107 yards and two TD’s.
Along with the third quarter TD pass to Sam Mason, Farrar’s 36-yard scoring strike to Nathan Alvarado with 44 seconds remaining in the first quarter got COHS to within 8-7 of RHP.
Mason had game highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (67).
RHP’s Gio Ortega continues to be one of the most under-appreciated players in the SGV.
Ortega rushed for 46 yards on 12 carries and the Kares senior brought a kickoff back 92 yards for a score.
In 2021, Ortega has scored multiple TD’s via rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return and pick-sixes.
Defensively for Charter Oak, Jayden Alexander’s 10 tackles was twice as many as the next closest player on both RHP and COHS.
Rio Hondo Prep’s Damyan Diaz would seal the deal when he intercepted a COHS pass with 1:39 left in the game.
Up next: RHP will host St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy on Friday.
The Warriors (9-2) defeated Heritage, 34-7, in their first-round contest.
Box Score:
RHP: 15-8-14-0-(37)
COHS: 7-9-7-7-(30)
Scoring:
RHP: Jonathan Guerrero 7 run (Guerrero run)
CO: Nathan Alvarado 36 pass from Vincent Farrar (Luis Marin kick)
RHP: Gio Ortega 92 kickoff return (Gio Ortega kick)
CO: Safety
CO: Sam Mason 36 pass from Vincent Farrar (Luis Marin kick)
RHP: Jonathan Guerrero 1 run (Jonathan Guerrero run)
RHP: Ryan McCulloch 58 pass from Damyan Diaz (Rio Ortega kick)
CO: Zakkari Black 56 run (Luis Marin kick)
RHP: Jonathan Guerrero 6 run (Gio Ortega kick)
CO: Zakkari Black 55 run (Luis Marin kick)
Records: Rio Hondo Prep (10-1); Charter Oak (5-6)
Division 7 First Round Scores:
Pasadena 50, Thousand Oaks 13
La Mirada 35, Golden Valley 29
Leuzinger 44, El Rancho 12
Aquinas 49, Xavier Prep 12
Mira Costa 35, Pacifica Garden Grove 14
Alta Loma 33, Troy 26
Rio Hondo Prep 37, Charter Oak 30
St. Pius 34, Heritage 6
Division 7 Quarterfinal Round Schedule:
Pasadena at La Mirada
Aquinas at Leuzinger
Alta Loma at Mira Costa
St. Pius at Rio Hondo Prep
To view Susan Coulter’s photo gallery of both teams, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook
Thanks to Harry Joe for the game info and stats
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