By Tony Solorzano
(El Monte) – Four touchdowns by junior running back Nate Tayco led Rio Hondo Prep to claim their second consecutive CIF Southern Section Northeast Division title in a 28-21 defeat of top-seeded Mission Prep Friday night at Rio Hondo Prep’s Kares Field.
The win earned the Kares (12-1) the school’s second consecutive Northeast title and the fifth under head coach Ken Drain, as well as the 14th overall title in school history. Drain was pleased with the result of the team’s efforts this year.
“IT feels fantastic, it never gets old,” said coach Drain. “I can’t say enough about these kids. Nate kept coming back after getting cramps and (quarterback) Colby Rivera just kept up the pressure.”
Three months ago,. at the start of the football season, The Kares (12-1) previously hosted the Royals (11-2) in a week 1 contest that went to the visitors from San Luis Obispo 47-14. Friday night’s game was not going to be a repeat performance for the Royals.
The Royals struck first just three plays into the game, closing out a quick three-play drive with a 61-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Baty to leading receiver Joey Hall just 1:19 into the fist quarter for a 7-0 lead. However, the Kares answered back as Rivera and Tayco engineered a 74-yard drive capped by Tayco’s first score, from three yards out with 6:13 left in the quarter. After forcing the Royals to punt on their next possession, Tayco did it again, this time needing only 11 second to take a hand-off from Rivera and break free for a 60-yard score with 4:59 left.
In the second, The Royals roared back. The Royals’ Patrick Laird intercepted Rivera in Kares’ territory and put the Royals on the Kares’ 30-yard line. Six plays later, Laird closed out the drive with a five-yard run, tying the score with 3:42 left in the half. The Royals would retake the lead at the end of the half when they used the last 1:53 of the half to drive 81 yards, although the Kares nearly ended the drive short of the goal after Baty was sacked for a 12-yard loss on a first-and-goal play. Two time outs later, Baty tossed a strike to Hall as time expired in the half, sending the Royals into the half up-21-14.
The third quarter would be the key for the Kares’ victory. On their first drive of the second half, the Kares emulated the Royals’ first score, needing only three plays to get a score. After Tayco took a pitch for a four-yard gain, Rivera hooked up with Jake Holguin for a 50-yard strike, putting the Kares at the Royals’ 10-yard line, where Tayco finished the drive with a 10-yard run. However, kicker Aaron Gutkind’s point after attempt was deflected left and the Royals held on to a slim 21-20 lead.
The Kares would regain the lead on their next possession, as Rivera pushed the Kares 85 yards in 11 plays. On two occasions, Rivera’s arm got the Kares out of danger. After a holding penalty and a pass for a two-yard loss pushed the Kares back to their own nine-yard line, Rivera hit Christian Torrico for a 35-yard completion, putting the Kares near mid-field. Three plays later, the Kares seemed to be stalled on the Royals’ 45-yard line when Rivera tossed a lob to Ty Loomis who nearly ran the ball into the end zone but was taken down at the six-yard line. Tayco finished the drive with his fourth score, breaking through the line for the six-yard score.
In the fourth, both schools traded possessions, but the Royals, on their second possession of the final quarter, could not get into the Kares’ red zone thanks to their last two plays. After Baty was sacked for a four-yard loss by Dave Guerrero, he fumbled the snap and Guerrero pounced on it at the Kares’ 24-yard line, potentially sealing the victory.
However, despite managing to move the ball to the Royals’ nine-yard line, the Kares turned the ball over on the Royals’ 14-yard line with 11 seconds left in the game. Fortunately for the Kares, Baty was only able to get a short, four-yard pass to Hall, but the Kares kept Hall inbound as time expired, starting the celebration.
Rivera ended his career with the Kares throwing for 128 yards on four completions, but gave up an interception. The junior Tayco carried 28 times for 158 yards and all four scores. Holguin’s lone 50-yard reception was enough to lead the receivers, while Loomis ended his career with two catches for 43 yards.
The Royals’ leading rusher was senior Michael Cardwell with 11 carries for 74 yards, while Laird had five more carries but only had 70 yards and his one score. Baty completed 14 of 26 passes for 205 yards and his two scoring passes, both of which went to Hall, who caught nine passes for 156 yards.
The Kares are waiting to see if they will be selected to move on to the State Tournament, when the State CIF announces the 20 teams that will play next week for spots in the State Championships on December 14 and 15 at the Home Depot Center.
Leave a Reply