Noah Penunuri ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Kares into the Division 5 Semi-Finals.
By Tim Peterson
(El Monte) – Noah Penunuri ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns to lead Rio Hondo Prep to a convincing 28-0 shutout of Troy Friday night at Arroyo High School in the second round of the CIF Division 5 playoffs.
Penunuri scored three times in the first quarter as the Kares jumped out to a 21-0 lead on a rainy night and coasted from there. The Kares marched down the field on the opening possession. Penunuri capped the march with a five-yard run and with just three minutes gone in the game it was 7-0.
On Troy’s first possession Elias Har intercepted Troy quarterback Mason Mays and the Kares were in business again. A couple of plays later Penunuri broke a couple tackles and broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown scamper and it was 14-0 before everybody had opened their umbrellas.
After a Troy punt it was the same thing on the next Rio Hondo possession. Penunuri, who else? got loose and was on the run again. This time he crossed the goal line from 58 yards out and with 2:30 still left in the first quarter it was 21-0 Kares.
Troy did manage to drive down to the Rio Hondo Prep two-yard line in the second quarter but a fumble pushed the Warriors back to the 13-yard line. Troy went for it on fourth down from the 13 but Mays’ pass fell incomplete and the Kares stopped the threat.
Rio Hondo Prep took the 21-0 lead into the half.
The Kares controlled the ball in the third quarter on offense and continued to hold Troy out of the endzone.
Rio Hondo Prep added one more score in the fourth quarter when Penunuri picked up his fourth score of the night on a one-yard plunge.
The Kares maintained the shutout the rest of the way. Rio Hondo Prep had 296 total yards rushing as Nathaniel Shine ran for 74 and Christian Lee added 53. The Kares threw the ball only two times in the contest.
Rio Hondo Prep will face La Serna next Friday night at Arroyo in the Division 5 Semi-Finals. The Lancers were 10-7 winners over Aliso Niguel.
TR 0 0 0 0 0
RH 21 0 0 7 28
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This was the matchup I’ve always wanted for LS. They’re up against a powerhouse, and the only path to a win is to be locked in at every level, execute, stay disciplined, and shut down their running game. People forget that Rio has 16 SS-CIF titles and are back to back 2023–2024 CIF champions. I have nothing but respect for the Rio Hondo Prep football program.
LS by 14