By Rich Whittington
(Pasadena) The Rio Hondo Prep Kares outlasted the host Poly Panthers, 28-21, Friday Afternoon, in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd at Babcock Field.
Rio Hondo Prep scored first. Jonathan Guerrero found the end zone on a 50 yard touchdown run, giving the Kares a 7-0 first quarter lead. Prep increased this lead to 14-0, when Gio Ortega scored on a 65 yard TD scamper with :05 remaining in the first half of play.
The Panthers made a game of it in the second half, scoring on their first possession of the third quarter, courtesy of Connor Boyle, who scored on a 42 yard run. Poly added score in the period, when Jackson Treister found pay dirt on a 35 yard scoring jaunt, which tied the game, 14-14, with 6:53 remaining in the third period of play.
Rio Hondo Prep answered with a score of their own, as Jonathan Guerrero again found end zone, on a 14 yard scoring run. This made the score 21-14, Rio Hondo Prep, as the third quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter saw the teams exchange touchdowns. Poly’s Connor Boyle scored again, on a 99 yard TD run. Bolye finished the evening with 162 yards on five carries,
including the aforementioned touchdowns. This was answered by RHP’s Guerrero, who sealed the victory with a 9 yard touchdown blast with 49 seconds remaining in regulation.
Guerrero finished the evening with 172 yards on 25 carries, and three touchdowns.
Rio Hondo finishes the regular season with a record of 9-0, 3-0 in Prep League play, and will advance to the CIF, Division 12 playoffs. Their opponent, game time, and game
location are to be determined. Poly finishes the season with a record of 5-4, 0-2 in Prep League play.
D12 champs pretty soon.