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 through 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
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Heard Andy G chose his QB for league MVP and really pushed the nomination. Rumor has it he didnt even nominate #2 for anything, slap in the face.
When La Serna moves into its new league, will the school still be a destination for top ballers in the Whittier area? And will the readers of this site continue to care about LS they way they do now?
@Sportsman … I’ll take Football Breakfast for $400, Alex #Jeopardy
i don’t have a team Anonymous except i favor the teams that you always insult with very incorrect information. I think, not know anything or claim to be perfectly correct, that you never started a game in high school football. Why don’t you describe why that line coach ( who i suggest coached long time for the Redskins?? Am i close? And if i am on target then I definitely agree with you that he is a valuable coach to have as an assistant) I think he was experienced and coached at a different varsity team in the same league! Or am i way off? If i am correct I really liked his personality off the field too. Wasn’t his son a good football player too?
@JugglingMyNuts
You seem to know a lot of LS. Either you had a kid go there and he didn’t play and you got mad or he played on a team that lost to LS 4 years in a row and you got mad. Either way you sound hurt.
As far as the 10-0 Freshman team, I’m sure they lost a few, you always lose a couple. I know 1 went to Amat, but that’s nothing knew, there is like 10 guys from Whittier on Amat’s roster. But the core of that 10-0 team remains & things point to LS having a much stronger team next year, than the last 2 years. Probably not 2023 good, but pretty good.
This was supposed to be the down year and they still made it to the Semifinals. The future is bright on the hill.
@By the numbers
I’m not sure, but I think La Serna started only 1 Senior O-Linemen this year with either 3 Sophs and 1 Jr. Or 2 Jrs & 2 Sophs.
Either way, the group might have struggled this year, but returning 4 out of 5 starting O-Linemen bolds well for the future.
@A Shell of Yourself
You sure know a lot about the program. Either your kid couldn’t hack it and left La Serna or he played on a team that got ran over by La Serna. Not sure which one but you sound deeply wounded.
I’m sure some kids have left from the 10-0 group, 1 to Amat, but there’s always a few that leave, but the majority
@LS Juggernaut: I appreciate your candor and interesting stats. I believe the ‘elephant in the room’ with this year’s LS team was something related to the offensive line. I had read elsewhere on this site about the o-line coach resigning in protest over a certain player being brought into the mix. That would absolutely explain the low point output in the regular season and continuing into the postseason. I can’t name names because I don’t know them, and I wouldn’t want to disparage a minor in any case.
As a knowledgeable football person, you know how crucial the o-line is to the game, and I think you can see what I’m talking about here. Hopefully, whatever issues pertain in this situation will be dealt with and corrected. We will see.
@lsjugglesnuts all that bla bla bla is not necessary to try to feel better about the DELETED kicking you took at the hands of a real program like RHP. That 10-0 group is a shell of what it was, multiple kids from that team have gone out seeking greener pastures.
@By the Numbers
Since you brought it up, this is only the 2nd time in 15 playoff years that La Serna has lost a playoff game, before the CIF Finals, (so in the 1st three rounds) by more than 1 score.
The other time was in 2021 to St. Francis 20-0, when LS had 2 TDs called back and lost a fumble at the goal line.
That spans a total of 39 playoff games (31-8) in Rd 1, the Quarterfinals, & Semifinals that LS has played since 2010 and only 2 teams have knocked LS out before the finals by a margin of more than 1 score.
So congrats to Rio Hondo, they did what only 1 other team has done to LS in 39 playoff games within the first 3 playoff rounds.
La Serna has also played 9 CIF Finals or State playoff games since 2010 (4-5) with 3 of those losses being by more than 1 score.
Total it all up and you got a (35-13) playoff record since 2010.
48 Playoff games, with 8 of the 13 losses coming in 1 score games (1-8 pts).
Pretty good stuff and making the CIF Semifinals, beating Edison and winning their 8th straight undefeated League Championship is not too shabby for a team that relies on a lot of Jrs and Sophs. Looking forward to next year, when La Serna’s 10-0 freshman group, who beat Los Alamitos and Damien, will be Seniors.
Good luck to Rio Hondo Prep, hope they win CIF and State.
RHP’s margin of victory was the second widest of all 28 semifinal contests. The winner in the wipeout derby was St Pius/St Matthias, which creamed Roosevelt 39-6. Obviously, if a team is good enough to make the semis, they should be good enough to play it closer than 33 points, or in LS’s case, 29 points. The double digit teams all seemed to have slugfests, scoring very little while making a slew of mistakes, commiting tons of penalties and turning the ball over like it was a flapjack. I guess it’s that stuff that makes people say the double digits are exciting.
Although I’m super disappointed with the outcome of the game, we all knew Rio was going to run the ball. But you don’t truly understand it until you face them. They’re disciplined, physical, and have a stellar running game. Defensively, they’re solid too. With their style of play, I honestly don’t think anyone is going to stop them.
As for LS, we came out flat. On our first offensive possession we had three penalties in a row, and I knew right then it was going to be a long night.
Even after their main running back, Noah, got hurt in the second quarter, the Kares just kept rolling. No matter who they put in the backfield, they kept pounding the ball down our throats. Our defense had no answer and just couldn’t stop them. I truly hope that young man is okay and can recover in time for the Championship game.
Offensively, LS had too many missed passes and dropped balls, and with our run game being so inconsistent and lacking balance, we never found a rhythm. Every time we had a chance to settle in, we shot ourselves in the foot.
When we were down 21–6 late in the second quarter with under a minute left, first and goal on the 7 yard line, we still couldn’t punch it in. That one stung. Credit to Rio’s defense for that stop. If LS had scored there, it could have changed the entire momentum going into halftime.
I have to give full credit to Rio Hondo Prep, their game plan, and their system. They have a great program, and they’re the real deal. Honestly, I think they will win the CIF Division 5 Championship. Good luck in the finals!
You know the old adage Jughead. If your dad had…. he would have been your mom.
The game was closer than the score. However, when you play Rio Hondo Prep you have to score points. The RHP defense is solid and the RHP game running game is old school smash football. Slow down the video and watch the OL and you will see why RHP runs the ball with success. Add in a great RB and the offense 9 out of 10 times will score a TD.
Thank you for the coverage on Friday night.
Congrats to Rio Hondo Prep on the their win.
They are an excellent team. They played well.
The two 4th down plays in the 2nd Qtr were the ballgame.
Rio Hondo Prep converts the 4th and long jump ball Hail Mary for a TD.
Then La Serna has 4th and goal at the 1 right before half and they get stopped.
If LS makes those 2 plays they go into half 14-14 and who knows. But Rio Hondo Prep made those plays & LS didn’t, so you gotta tip your cap and give Rio credit.
Good luck to RHP going forward, I hope they win State like LS did in 2023.
Taking a small breather from hits on the La Serna pinata, I’d like to wish RHP the absolute best of luck in bringing home another championship by beating a very good Redondo club. That’s the kind of goodwill that would be forthcoming for LS if they had shocked the world with a win last night, so it’s only right to join hands with Mark Carson’s kids and cheer them on. Go Kares!
I enjoyed reading Robledos pre-game thoughts on X. He said La Serna really passes the eye test with sixe and strength while Rio looked small in all aspects. Small players small roster. While La Serna was bowing their necks and kissing their biceps for Freddie Rio was stretching in no pads just jerseys. Someone forgot to tell La Serna the game is not a beauty contest but actually has to be played. Plus Rio Hondo lost their key player in the 2nd quarter. They still could have used him but coaches knew their 2nd string was plenty to handle the flexing paper tigers.
Back to back champs going for 3 in knew they were the real deal but seeing them in person they’re special. Everyone did their job, knees covered, jerseys tucked in, celebrated got back to work . LS probably missed out on two scores but RHP are THEM!!!
I found it hilarious watching the big La Serna QB rolling out and trying to outrun the RHP defense, impossible against such a disciplined unit. #2 would’ve cooked.
Of course I’m aware that Tim picked Rio over LS, 24-17. Considering the Lancers had scored only 17 points total in two complete games against lesser opponents, that 17 point prediction had to have been based on thinking the mystical LS tradition would nudge the scoreboard upward.
Looks like the past stayed firmly in the past, as the Lancer offense remained sluggish despite whatever spiritual proddings may have percolated in some supporters’ minds. The excuse for this rout will no doubt be fixed on the greatness of RHP, but it needs to be said that the LS program, particularly the offense, needs some serious retooling. I see no shame in admitting as much. If the time comes when RHP’s great organization needs modification, I’ll be first to admit that too.
than the LS coaching staff that has a choke hold on the media as being one of the best staffs in the SGV was out coached in every phase of the game last night. Don’t know what the game plan was for LS , you have a 6’6 QB with a cannon arm and you still try and run the wing T against an opponent that was too discipline for the gimmick, something has to change in that program. player for player , LS had the better team but upfront RHP was too much for LS OLine.
@Sports Man
Your team lost big time bro, are you this weird in real life, handling the loss this way? Get a grip dude lmao
Told you they’d win two games at most over at LS. Stuttery George led his team to this season’s conclusion
We need to create a trophy for teams that win playoff games by scoring the least points. Under this scheme, LS would be recognized for scratching-out 2 grueling wins with only 17 total points scored. I believe this ability to be efficient with the points is what Peterson saw in the hill heroes. It doesn’t matter that the Whittier kids came up short against Rio; it was all by design, as they were attempting the ultimate stunt of showing they could win with only 6 points. I admire them greatly for having the guts to try it.
From T. Peterson. I picked Rio Hondo Prep. Check ‘Game Night”.
Can’t wait for Big George to make excuses for LS
Is he this weird away from high school football blogs? Non stop criticism from this SELF PROCLAIMED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GENIUS, yet the truth is ‘those who insult consistently are the people who have the fairly serious mental deficient EGO “. Psych 101 or 102 teaches ‘ Why people in ‘trouble with their own personality that (usually unconscious defensive mechanism ) : usually is hidden by non stop criticism of other people . They do this because ‘they have a mental deficiency and unconsciously try to feel better by doing exactly what this guy does all the time’! Weak ego’s defensive mechanisms play the ‘role’ of protecting a persons weak ego by non stop criticism /insulting other people. This somewhat ‘cures’ the persons weakness mentally as his insults make him think he knows stuff ; which like this time; he knows zero
Um yea we um just um werent um ready um to play um a real um real not um fake um tough um guys