FOOTBALL: Rio Hondo Prep has one thing on its mind, a title
Kares pursuing another CIF championship
Rio Hondo Prep finished 8-2 in 2006 and was ousted in the first round of the CIF playoffs.
We caught up with the Kares as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Kares look to move ahead
RH Prep far from pleased despite 8-2 mark in 2006
By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/25/2007 01:55:21 AM PDT
ARCADIA - An 8-2 record ordinarily would be deemed a success.
For the Rio Hondo Prep football team, it was a record that could be termed as unacceptable.
Success has become the standard at the little school nestled in Arcadia, the type of success that involves rings and accolades.
Over the years, the Kares have won 11 CIF-Southern Section football championships - nine in eight-man football, one six-man and one 11-man.
They also have been runners-up on six occasions.
After finishing runner-up in 2004, Rio Hondo Prep won the Division XIII title in 2005.
A 20-0 defeat at the hands of Pasadena Poly last season for the Prep League championship and a first-round loss to Aquinas in the East Valley Division playoffs didn't sit well with many of the Kares.
"Here at Rio Hondo Prep, the No. 1 goal is always to win a CIF title," Kares coach Ken Drain said. "That's what everyone comes in thinking."
Drain, entering his seventh season, is ready to pound the football with senior tailback Trevor Finchamp getting most of the carries.
Finchamp led the Kares in rushing in 2006 with 683 yards and four touchdowns.
He was left empty-handed, however.
"I haven't really handled a loss like that since junior high," Finchamp said of the 28-7 loss to Aquinas. "It's pretty much devastating when you work up your whole year and see how the seniors felt.
"It definitely makes me want to avenge that this year."
Finchamp's job doesn't end on offense. He is a linebacker on defense and the team's kicker.
Finchamp led the team with four sacks.
"Trevor does just about everything for us," Drain said. "He's a great running back, blocks well, does a great job at linebacker and he's our kicker.
"We expect him to get points in a lot of ways for us this year."
After seeing limited action as a backup a year ago, Dan Castro appears ready to lead the Kares back to the next level.
Castro completed just over 50 percent of his passes last season for 413 yards and a team-high six touchdowns.
"He played about four games last year and did well, but his varsity experience is very limited," Drain said.
Tim Esquerra and Alex McNees will be Castro's main targets.
Esquerra was second on the team with 13 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, and McNees caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Castro, at 5-foot-9, may not have the ideal size to be a quarterback, but he recalls the Kares' signal-caller from the 2005 championship team.
"Two years ago, Will Torrico, about my same size, showed a lot of leadership, and I'm thinking about doing the same thing," Castro said.
The Kares open the season at Bakersfield Christian on Sept. 7.
GAME RESCHEDULED
Blair's season opener against Marshall has been moved to Sept. 7 at Muir High.
ONE MORE WEEK
Four games will kick off the 2007 season on Aug. 31. Gabrielino travels to Pioneer, Monrovia hosts Montclair, Pasadena is at Harvard-Westlake and San Gabriel opens at Walnut.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Maranatha fans thought Castro was a great player. On the other thread lovefootball was right, finchamp can't post without bringing Maranatha into it. Very interesting condition no?
Finchamp, send your daughter over when she is old enough. We have an excellent CC program and would love to have her.
Castro was at the helm (QB) in RH Prep's first four victories last year. He is solid and capable of leading this team, ask Maranatha what they think about him.
Scott--
With you as the only exception there are no rules, rights or wrongs in posting on the blog.
P finchamp, it would be nice to have a proofer for the blog. :)
The Kares are in the East Valley Division. Like P said, if you put a number to it they're in Division XII with some much larger schools.
Paul,
Trevor carries himself well. Good job.
JJimenez--
D-XII but only because of the success they and the Prep League had in D-XIII in most all sports. Clearly they belong in small schools 8-man where they came from but the competition wasn't there. They pleaded to get and out were granted that wish in 2002 I believe.
What division are the Kares in??
Scott--
Nice coverage. No I in team and no U in pursue? Editors, proofers, can't live with 'em.....