The Rio Hondo Prep Kares solidified themselves as a premier program in the San Gabriel Valley with a 35-6 victory over La Serna in the Division 5 Semifinals. The Kares played with nearly flawless execution on both sides of the ball at West Covina HS on Friday night and delivered another eye opening statement win for fans across Southern California. Rio Hondo advanced to their 24th Southern Section Final in school history and will be pursuing their 17th Title. Head Coach Mark Carson talks about the big win and how RHP Football has officially made a name for itself. We are also joined by Senior RB/DE Nathaniel Shine and Junior QB/DB Isaac Guzman who share their excitement to be part of another magical playoff run by Rio Hondo Prep.
The San Gabriel Valley has seen its fair share of incredible matchups during the Postseason over the years, but nothing can quite compare to what we will see at Covina District Field on Friday night as the La Serna Lancers (9-3) take on the Rio Hondo Prep Kares (12-0) in the CIF-SS Division 5 Semifinals. Many have wanted to see these two juggernauts square off after their recent successful runs and they will do so this week with a third straight trip to the Finals on the line for both programs. Schurr Head Coach Austin Montoya returns to the show to help us break down the big SGV showdown as his Spartans faced off against both teams the first two weeks of the season. Additionally, Azusa Pacific University Head Coach AJ Parnell stops by in the 2nd half to talk about bringing back APU Cougar Football after a six year hiatus and how he will build back their Christ centered tradition on the Gridiron.
Rio Hondo Prep improved to 12-0 with a dominating shutout win over the Troy Warriors in the Division 5 Quarterfinals. Throughout a steady downpour of rain at Arroyo High School in El Monte, the Kares came out on fire and never looked back. Noah Penunuri ran wild early and often while scoring all 4 Touchdowns for Rio. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps the huge 28-0 win for his program and shares his excitement for a 3rd consecutive trip to the Semifinals. We are also joined by Senior OL/DL Elijah Gavia and Senior WR/DB Jace Frary who each reflect on just how special the experience has been playing football at Rio Hondo Prep. The Kares host La Serna next Friday in what is arguably the biggest game in San Gabriel Valley history.
Rio Hondo Prep (11-0) will host the Troy Warriors (10-1) in the Quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 Playoffs. The game will be played at Arroyo High School in El Monte and heavy rain is expected to fall. The Kares have one of the best rushing attacks in Southern California, but their 2nd Round opponent loves to run the football as well. Whoever can make a stand and stop the run best in this trench warfare type of fight will advance to the Semifinals. Tony Moskal is our guest this week. He has spent most of his career in teaching and coaching but has become one of the most inciteful broadcasters in high school football. Moskal is the Color Analyst for the Game of the Week across the Spectrum Sport Networks and pulls no punches when it comes to breaking down the poetry in motion that we hold so dear under those Friday Night Lights.
Rio Hondo Prep trailed by two scores early on against the Thousand Oaks Lancers in the 1st Round of the Division 5 Playoffs. However, the Kares played with passion and poise to complete an impressive come from behind victory by outscoring the home team 43-13 the remainder of the contest. Rio Hondo played relentless on defense and with superb execution on offense for a 50-34 win at the highest level they've ever competed in for the Postseason. Head Coach Mark Carson makes his weekly appearance to recap the historic comeback for his program. We are also joined by Junior RB/LB Christian Lee and Junior WR/DB Elias Har who each scored Touchdowns in Rio's big opening statement.
Rio Hondo Prep will make history on Friday night as they take the field in the highest division they've ever participated in for the CIF Southern Section Playoffs. The 16 time Champions will be competing in Division 5 this November as they try to defend their back to back Titles from 2023 in D9 and 2024 in D7. The Kares will travel to Thousand Oaks and take on the 8-2 Lancers who are full of college bound athletes. After countless uphill battles in the Postseason the past two years, Rio Hondo is poised for another challenge of a lifetime. Our featured guest is Aram Tolegian who has been covering High School Football for over 20 years and knows the teams in the San Gabriel Valley better than anyone. We discuss Rio's steady ascent into being one of the elites in the SGV and the perception from those who aren't affiliated with the program. Additionally, Senior London Sayegh makes a quick special appearance on the show after she recently modeled a book report in Literature class as a satire of the Charge To Keep podcast. The 2025 Kares have accepted their dangerous mission for the Division 5 Playoffs. As they figuratively take off from their aircraft carrier this Friday night, we wish them Godspeed.
Rio Hondo Prep (10-0) was officially placed in Division 5 of the Southern Section Playoffs and will travel to Thousand Oaks (8-2) in the 1st Round this Friday night. The Kares have the longest road trip in their Bracket but are no strangers to traveling to big away games in the Postseason. The Road Warriors and their loyal fans wouldn't have it any other way. Head Coach Mark Carson reacts to the release of the matchups in real time and shares his team's excitement for another memorable opportunity. We are also joined by Seniors Diego Raygoza and Brayden Vinton on what playing for RHP has meant to them during this incredible journey the past few seasons.
In the regular season finale this Thursday night, Rio Hondo Prep will defend their undefeated record and their home turf against the 6-3 Santee Falcons from the CIF LA City Section. The Senior Class will be honored in a very special pregame ceremony that will acknowledge one of the most iconic 4 year runs in the history of the program. Be sure to get to Kare Park a little early this week to pay tribute to the Class of 2026 and partake in the In N Out Burger Cookout Truck which will be on hand. Our guest this week is 2006 Rio grad Bill Baumgartner who was an elusive Running Back on RHP's first 11 Man CIF Championship in 2005. It has been 20 years since that unforgettable moment, and we have continued to see just how far Rio Hondo Football has grown while carrying on the proud tradition of those who came before them.
Rio Hondo Prep improved to 9-0 and won their second consecutive Gold Coast League Title with a resounding victory over the Brentwood Eagles at Sofi Stadium on Saturday night. The Kares brought their A-game to Inglewood and were impressive under the bright lights of the best stadium in the NFL. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps the unbelievable experience for his team and the community that loves them. Senior RB/LB Noah Penunuri also stops by after he officially became the new all time leading rusher for RHP by surpassing Rio legend Landon Goodwell. Penunuri is as humble as they come and continues to show why he is the ultimate example of what it means to be a Kare.
Rio Hondo Prep has embraced many challenges over the years and in doing so has created countless memories along the way. Although they played in Northern California last year and Texas this season, the Kares will be under the brightest lights in Tinseltown when they take on their rivals the Brentwood Eagles in Sofi Stadium this Saturday night at 4:30pm. The winner will be awarded as an automatic qualifier into the 2025 Postseason and be able to walk away from the 8th Wonder of the World as Gold Coast League Champions. Our special guest this week is Brentwood Head Coach Jake Ford. He has been with the Eagles for over a decade and has recently found the formula to neutralize RHP in their annual matchup. The conversation with Coach Ford will have you ready to root for both teams in what has become one of the best rivalries in Southern California. Join us in Inglewood this Saturday for a historical moment that both of these programs can cherish forever.
Rio Hondo Prep improved to 8-0 after a 41-10 victory over the Viewpoint Patriots in Week 8. The Kares looked fresh after their Bye Week but did have some uncharacteristic hiccups along the way. Noah Penunuri scored twice and gained more ground toward two big Rio records. Nathaniel Shine had two powerful Touchdown runs and two Sacks on Defense. Calogero Chico took an Interception 67 yards to the House. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps all the action from Friday night in Simi Valley and offers more insight into the RHP Football Program. As a special treat, we have the Harrington brothers on for the Player Portion of the Podcast. Both Nick and Dorian Harrington have developed greatly as football players and are enjoying every opportunity set before them.
After a well earned Bye Week, Rio Hondo Prep takes their 7-0 record to Simi Valley High School this Friday night as they take on the 7-0 Viewpoint Patriots. The Gold Coast League opener features two undefeated teams that are on a collision course where someone's perfect record will fall in Week 8. Our guest this week is LA City Firefighter Isaac Holguin who won 2 Football Championships at RHP in 2011 and 2012 as well as the school's first ever Boys Basketball Title in 2013. His brother Jake is a United States Marine and the Holguin family has continued to be great supporters of Rio Hondo. Isaac was also a proud member of the Interagency Hotshot Crew for the US Forest Service where he fought large wildfires from 2018-2024.
Rio Hondo Prep will leave the great State of Texas with a 7-0 record after defeating defending back to back State Champion First Baptist Academy 49-28. Noah Penunuri ran wild for 261 yards and 5 Touchdowns while the Kares rushed for 465 yards as a team. Rio Hondo Prep represented themselves well on the field under the Friday Night Lights of the Lone Star State, but it was the overwhelming support from fans, families, and alumni that were in attendance in Dallas that really showed the exceptionalism of California's most unique program. On the player portion of the podcast we will be joined by Senior OL Jacob Gomez and Senior DB Adrian Mendoza who each made huge contributions on Friday. Head Coach Mark Carson also makes his weekly appearance to recap his team's unprecedented trip across the country in yet another new chapter of Rio Hondo Prep Football.
Rio Hondo Prep (6-0) has never traveled out of state to play a football game. In Week 6 the Kares will be under the Friday Night Lights of Dallas, Texas to take on First Baptist Academy (4-1) in front of their Homecoming crowd. The Saints are defending back to back State Champions in Division 4 of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). Our special guest this week is FBA Head Coach Jason Lovvorn who couldn't be more excited to host the 16 time CIF Southern Section Champions from California. Both schools are two of the smallest enrollments out there that play Championship level 11 man football and have more in common than both fan bases may realize. It's the Golden State vs the Lone Star State this Friday night in an unprecedented matchup of small school football programs that accomplish big things on and off the field.
Rio Hondo Prep defeated St Anthony 52-17 on Homecoming and improved to 6-0. The Kares seem to be playing their best football as the weather changes while they make the transition into another chapter of the promising season. There is no telling what this team can accomplish if they continue their consistent climb to greatness. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps another memorable night at Kare Park and discusses the upcoming road trip to take on First Baptist Academy in Dallas next week. We are also joined by Homecoming Queen Janna Taflinger and Senior Kicker Easton Jara to wrap up the final week of September.
It's time for Homecoming at Rio Hondo Prep as the Kares host the St Anthony Saints from Long Beach in Week 5. Although both teams have had very different seasons so far, you can toss out the records and expect a competitive contest under the brightest of lights this Friday night. Our guest this week is 1991 Rio alum David Joe who was a fierce Linebacker for the 1990 CIF Champions. He has been a huge supporter of RHP Football over the years and is a very close friend of Head Coach Mark Carson. Joe takes us down memory lane for some unique stories and shares how playing football at Rio Hondo set him up for his very successful career path.
Rio Hondo Prep improved to 5-0 with an intense and physical 36-7 win over Bellflower High School at Ron Yary Stadium. The Kares led 36-0 at Halftime and came away without any additional injuries at the midpoint of the Regular Season. Despite some early energy from the host Buccaneers, Rio took control of the game early and really delivered a true statement win on the road. Head Coach Mark Carson breaks down all the action from Friday night and sheds light on why RHP Football continues to be played with specific expectations. Seniors Blaize Torrez and David Reyes also make an appearance on the show to discuss their experience with the program.
Rio Hondo Prep is 4-0 and will officially be at the halfway point of the regular season after traveling to Bellflower High School this Friday night. The host Buccaneers are 3-0 and would like nothing better than to avenge last season's blowout loss to the Kares. Our guest is 1982 CIF Champion Scot Moore who was one of Rio Hondo's greatest Running Backs in its illustrious history. Mr Moore was a longtime Leader for the Atlantic Pirates of Kare Youth League where he coached countless future RHP football players. His son KJ was a CIF Champ as well on the 2008 and 2011 teams. Mr Moore's father-in-law Mike Dowd was Rio's first ever football coach, and his wife Lori Moore has been the Principal at Pearl Prep for many years where most of our current team's players spent their elementary school days before moving on to Rio Hondo Prep.
Rio Hondo Prep improved to a 4-0 record with a 49-20 win over the Marquez Gladiators. Head Coach Mark Carson was back on the sidelines this week, and the Kares seemed to have really found their rhythm offensively. We will hear from HCMC for his weekly recap of the game and his excitement for the steady progress of his team. Senior WR/DB Tyler Dang checks in on the pod after scoring 3 Touchdowns for Rio last night. Additionally, Junior OL/LB Troy Seto makes an appearance to talk about how fun it is to play football at RHP.
Rio Hondo Prep will host the Marquez Gladiators on Friday night at Kare Park where both teams will bring 3-0 records into Week 2. The Gladiators have blown out all of their opponents and are averaging 46 points per game. Marquez travels well and you can count on a good showing from their pep squads in Irwindale. Rio Hondo fans have a tailgate planned for 4:00pm so it should be a great environment for high school football. Our guest this week is 2008 CIF Champion Tim Esquerra. He was a smooth Running Back for Rio, and he now runs Esquerra Chiropractic in Pasadena. Esquerra also works with NFL players during their off-season in Hollywood to recover and prepare their bodies for the grueling challenges in Professional Football.