MidValleySports.Com

Christian Lee ran through traffic for 121 yards and three touchdowns.

By Tim Peterson

(Irwindale) – Rio Hondo Prep ran for over 400 yards and scored all five of its touchdowns on the ground in a 38-14 win over Viewpoint Friday night at Kare Park.

A majority of the damage was done by Christian Lee and Matt Montez who combined for 340 yards and all five scores. Lee ran for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries while Montez had 128 yards and two scores on 18 carries.

“Christian Lee and Matt Montez did a great job, it starts with our guys up front though and they really set the tone. Credit to Viewpoint. They were 7-0 coming in but I think our run game and physicality got to them,” said Rio Hondo Prep head coach Mark Carson.

Viewpoint was down 21-7 at halftime but got to within one touchdown early in the third quarter. Lee fumbled after getting hit and Parker Forte scooped up the ball and rumbled 32 yards for a touchdown with 11:42 left in the third. Just like that the Patriots were down 21-14. But that was the last time Viewpoint scored.

The Kares scored the next 17 points to wrap it up. The lost fumble apparently just made Lee angry. First he capped a seven-play drive with a 28-yard touchdown run.

After Viewpoint was stopped on fourth down on its own 41-yard line Lee found paydirt again. This time he bolted in from seven yards out to complete a short seven-play, 41-yard march. It was the third of the night for Lee and the Kares were up 35-14 with 2:55 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter Elias Har picked off a pass to halt a Patriots threat. Mid-way through the fourth Kevin Lara booted a 31-yard field goal for the final tally of the night.

Viewpoint’s only other touchdown came on its first possession. The Patriots drove 82 yards on 12 plays to go up 7-0. Estaban Montelegre caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Xavier Gobeck as Viewpoint drew first blood.

Matt Montez fought his way for 128 yards and two scores.

Rio Hondo Prep responded with an 80-yard drive of its own. Lee capped it with a 10-yard run as the first quarter clock ran out.

Montez scored twice in the second quarter to give the Kares a two-touchdown advantage. After Rio Hondo stopped Viewpoint on a fourth and goal at the four-yard line, Montez crossed the goal line on an eight-yard run with 3;09 left in the second to finish a 96-yard drive. With just three seconds left in the second quarter he busted in again from three yards out to cap an 87-yard drive to increase the lead to 21-7 at the half.

The Kares then broke it open in the third quarter.

For Viewpoint Ben Burken led the rushing attack with 83 yards on 12 carries. The Patriots were hurt by the two turnovers.

Rio Hondo Prep improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the Gold Coast League with the victory. Viewpoint suffered its first loss of the year and is now 7-1 but 0-1 in the Gold Coast.

“Our league only gets one guaranteed playoff spot so you got to win every league game. Our guys were in for the battle tonight and we kind of wore them down,” Carson added. “We got another tough game next week against Brentwood. We got to win that one.”

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