The California Division 3A State Championship was an Instant Classic and came down to the final play in Overtime to settle the score. Vanden from Fairfield defeated Rio Hondo Prep 42-41 after the Kares were stopped at the 1 yard line on their 2 Point Conversion attempt. The game featured countless lead changes and was full of drama. Vanden threw the ball all over the field while Rio Hondo ran wild inside and outside. Both contrasting styles of offense scored 35 points in regulation were the only teams out of the 15 State Matchups this weekend that went to OT. Head Coach Mark Carson joins us for one final time to recap a truly heroic effort from his team that unfortunately ended in heartbreak. It’s difficult to say goodbye at the end of a season, but we will do our best to thank countless people as we wrap up the third season of the Charge To Keep podcast. Thanks to all of Rio Hondo Prep past, present, and future for always being humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Merry Christmas to all and may you continue to Dream On……

Rio Hondo Prep has won 16 Southern Section Titles throughout its illustrious history. On Saturday night at Long Beach City College, the 2024 Kares (13-1) will compete for a chance to capture its first ever State Championship and will do so against the Vanden Vikings (12-2) who are making the long trip down from Northern California. Both teams are riding 8 game winning streaks and are polar opposites on the Offensive side of the ball. The Vikings love to throw it; the Kares love to run it. These two very different styles will collide on Saturday at Veterans Stadium for a 7:00pm Kickoff to see whose brand of ball can shine brightest in the Golden State. Getting us ready for RHP playing on their biggest stage ever is our guest Casey Clevenger. He played in Rio's first ever Southern Section Final back in 1972 and has been a Teacher there for countless decades while keeping a close eye on the football program he loves dearly.

Rio Hondo Prep overcame some significant adversity early on in Saturday night's Division 3A Regional down in San Diego. The Kares were tied with the host Poway Titans 7-7 at Halftime and eventually pulled away for a 28-14 gritty victory to advance to the school's first State Championship Game in their illustrious history. Rio Hondo is one of only thirty teams in California that get to play football next week out of nearly 1,300 schools in the Golden State. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps the emotional win and how his team continues to answer the bell with every challenge set before them. We also have Junior DB Calogero Chico on the show who made a few huge plays for a Rio defense that continued their rough and tough performance throughout this memorable Postseason.

After winning the school’s 16th CIF Southern Section Championship last week, the Rio Hondo Prep Kares (12-1) will travel 120 miles down to San Diego County to take on the Poway Titans (6-7) in the California Division 3A State Regional. The Titans have caught fire in the San Diego Section Playoffs scoring 18 touchdowns in their final two games. However, the Kares bring a staunch defense into December having only allowed six touchdowns the past four postseason games. Something has to give when both teams kickoff on Saturday with dreams of a State Championship Game appearance so close they can taste it. Dayna Rivera is an RHP graduate whose husband Colby is Rio’s all time passing leader that won CIF-SS Titles in 2011 and 2012. Her father, Richard Sanchez, is a Coach on Poway’s staff. Dayna joins us briefly to react to the very unique matchup for her family and the various emotions going into the big game. Additionally, we are joined by Brian Reed-Baiotto from 210 Prep Sports for an extended conversation on the Rio Hondo Prep Football Program.

Don't tell the Rio Hondo Prep Kares they can't compete with someone. For countless generations, Rio has outperformed their expectations. The Kares showed on Friday night that they back down to absolutely nobody as they defeated Warren High School 43-16 in the CIF-SS D7 Final to capture the school's 16th Southern Section Championship. This game will be immortalized as a night where RHP stood up to the new playoff format, the impossible odds, and the literal giants from a very large school. The accomplishment for Rio Hondo was as eye opening as it was dominant. The small school in Arcadia made its biggest statement in their illustrious history that their program is not only unlike any other but also a consistent championship contender wherever, whenever, or against whoever when battle lines are drawn. Sophomore TE/DB Elias Har recaps the big night and Head Coach Mark Carson also shares some insight on his team's back to back Championships.

Rio Hondo Prep has slayed countless Goliaths over their 57 year history on the gridiron. The Warren Bears from Downey are a giant among giants and the biggest challenge RHP has ever faced. The 3,635-120 enrollment discrepancy is the elephant in the room, but the Kares enter the 2024 CIF-SS Division 7 Finals with the brotherhood, toughness, and discipline that is unmatched throughout Southern California. Year in and year out, when Rio Hondo is counted out, they deliver results that no script writer could come up with. Let's see what the program that has withstood the test of time can stand up against when it matters most just one more time...... our special guest today is Mark Herrera who is better known on social media as "Mark The Shark." Herrera does team rankings and player watch lists all throughout the now year round coverage of high school football. Shark first took notice of Rio after they beat his nephew's Charter Oak team in 2021, and he also took in his first game at Kare Park last week in the Semifinals. Mark The Shark reacts to Rio Hondo Prep's eye opening win in person last week and why they are now among the elite programs in the San Gabriel Valley. I also take some phone calls from alumni to wrap up the show and set the stage for the most significant Rio Hondo football game in any of our lifetimes.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The Rio Hondo Prep Kares are headed back to the CIF Southern Section Finals. Rio defeated the West Torrance Warriors 42-21 in front of a capacity crowd at Kare Park in Irwindale after six consecutive Playoff Games on the road dating back to last season. The Kares played with a violent passion and deadly execution that can only be described as "Rio Hondo Football." Head Coach Mark Carson discusses the iconic win that will send his team to their 22nd Championship Game in the school's history as they pursue a 16th Banner. Junior RB/DE Nathaniel Shine makes a return to the show from his previous appearance after last year's Semifinal to share how he and his teammates are locked in with laser focus. Rio Hondo Prep has one of the smallest enrollments around but the presence of the alumni from various decades is something unmatched by any other program, and it will be needed again next week with a continued Championship Effort.

Rio Hondo Prep (10-1) will host West Torrance (10-2) in the CIF-SS Division 7 Semifinals after six consecutive postseason games on the road over the past two years. This is arguably the biggest home playoff game in school history and the most significant moment at Kare Park since Rio began playing their home contests there in Irwindale. Our special guest is Chris Fore who is the Principal at Mojave HS in Hesperia. Twenty years ago, Fore was the Head Coach of a Linfield Christian team that took on the Kares in RHP's first ever 11 Man Semifinal in a game he will never forget. That night Coach Fore learned just how special the small school in Arcadia truly was, and he has been a fan of RHP ever since. Chris Fore has written multiple books on successful coaching and continues to be a major advocate of high school football in California through many different avenues.

Learn more about Coach Fore and his Eight Laces Consulting program at www.eightlaces.org