By MVS Staff
Rio Hondo Prep had a potent offense with a running attack that was absolutely dominant. Sometimes the Kares had 7 or 8 players carry the ball in one game as they piled up nearly 5,000 yards on the ground. But the go to guy, the key that started the ignition, the main cog in the wheel of that attack was Noah Penunuri.
Penunuri’s name may have been hard to pronounce but he was harder to stop. Of the 4,973 yards that the team rushed for Penunuri ran for 1,973 and also rushed for 31 touchdowns averaging 8.2 yards a carry.
In the biggest games Penunuri shined the brightest. In the Division 7 Semi-Final game against West Torrance he ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Against Warren in the CIF Final he ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
Penunuri, a junior, continued his dominance in the State Playoffs. In a First-Round win over Poway he again scored twice while rushing for 187 yards. He capped it with a monster performance in the State Final, a 42-41 loss to Vanden, running for 232 yards and five touchdowns.
You need a first down, give it to Penunuri. You need a touchdown, give it to Penunuri. When the Kares needed a spark, they gave it to Penunuri.
Oh and by the way he also had 62 total tackles (28 solo) while playing on the defensive side of the ball.
Noah Penunuri is the Mid Valley Sports 2024 Player of the Year.
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Good pick. But Robledo and his fav Bonita High are gonna be hopin’ mad.