MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(West Covina) – Rio Hondo Prep rushed for 309 yards and the defense did the rest in a 35-6 rout of La Serna Friday night in the CIF Division 5 Semi-Finals at West Covina High School. The Kares will now have a shot at their third consecutive CIF Championship.

The key moment in the contest came with 21 seconds left in the second quarter. La Serna, down 21-6, drove 84 yards down to the Rio Hondo Prep one-yard line. The Lancers went for it on fourth and goal but quarterback Grady Long was stonewalled at the one and the Kares had held. instead of a one score game, Rio Hondo Prep took the two-touchdown lead into halftime and was never challenged again.

The Kares marched 78 yards on nine plays on the opening possession. Yanick Diaz hit a wide-open Christian Lee with a 13-yard touchdown pass.

After forcing a La Serna punt Rio Hondo put together another drive. This time they went 63 yards. Noah Penunuri busted in from the one -yard line to cap it and make it 14-0 early in the second quarter.

La Serna got on the board on the next possession. Jordan Bonilla got loose for a 57-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked leaving the score at 14-6.

The Kares had one more big strike left in the first half. Elias Har hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Diaz on a throw that appeared would be intercepted. Har made a play and pulled it away from the La Serna defender and scooted into the endzone for a 21-6 advantage with 2:03 left in the first half.

The Kares then made the big stop to close out the half.

the Lancers couldn’t get anything going offensively in the second half. They were stopped on fourth down twice and on the last two possessions Long was intercepted.

Penunuri didn’t play for Rio Hondo Prep in the second half due to a high ankle injury but the Kares had other players step up. Calogero Chico ran though the La Serna secondary for a 29-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. In the fourth Devin Gomez scored on a two-yard run with just over three minutes left to ice it.

The Kares had seven different players carry the ball. On defense Isaac Guzman and Har had the interceptions.

Penunuri finished with 96 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Nathaniel Shine rushed for 58 yards on 15 carriers and Lee had 8 rushes and the touchdown reception. Diaz was 4 for 4 through the air for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

For La Serna Long threw for 132 yards but was hurt by the two picks. Other than Bonilla’s big run the Lancers couldn’t establish the ground game.

The Lancers end the season 9-4 overall while Rio Hondo Prep remained perfect at 13-0 and will face Redondo Union next week for the CIF Division 5 title.

LS 0 6 0 0 6

RH 7 14 7 7 35