FOOTBALL: Finchamp lifts Kares
Running back has 3 TDs in 31-14 win
Rio Hondo Prep's Chaz Hanna carries the football while Fuad Beshir of Flintridge Prep tries for the tackle Friday night in the Kares 31-14 Prep League victory. (Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer)
By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
ARCADIA - It was only fitting that Rio Hondo Prep's Kare Field was decorated with the logos of Batman and Superman for homecoming on Friday night.
While he wasn't wearing a cape, Rio Hondo Prep running back Trevor Finchamp played the part of a super hero.
The senior churned out 122 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Kares to a 31-14 victory over visiting Flintridge Prep in the battle for first place in the Prep League.
Rio Hondo Prep continued its resurgence, winning its fourth consecutive game.
"It's an amazing feeling, coming back from 0-4 to start the season," Finchamp said.
The Kares' offensive line played like supermen, creating huge spaces for Finchamp to run through.
"(Flintridge Prep) has big guys and good players over there, and our line really did a great job opening up those holes, exposing the outside," Finchamp said. "I'm not that fast, but I was able to run around to the outside because of the great blocking of the offensive line."
Flintridge Prep (6-2, 3-1) outgained Rio Hondo Prep (4-4, 4-0) in total offense, 279-240.
The Kares, though, capitalized on a pair of turnovers to take control of the contest.
After Finchamp's 3-yard run gave Rio Hondo Prep a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter, the Kares recovered a Gus Herrera fumble at the Flintridge Prep 18-yard line.
Three plays later, Kares quarterback Daniel Castro plunged 1 yard into the end zone to give the Kares a 24-7 advantage.
Adam Ross pulled the Rebels back within 10 points on his 2-yard run with 18 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Ross led the Rebels with 126 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Flintridge Prep drove from its 5-yard line to its own 41. On fourth-and-1, Joel Bryant gained 8 yards and was trying for more when Andres Villalobos ripped the ball - and the victory - away from the Rebels.
"We were in trouble right there and we all exhaled on that one because Andres made a great save, helped us out and got us going the other direction," Finchamp said.
Said Flintridge Prep coach Perry Skaggs: "Rio Hondo Prep's football IQ is incredible. These kids know football and rarely make mistakes."
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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. |
Big Daddy,
I don't think I am as far off as you would like to think. Check CalPrep and see how RHP stacks up against St. Margarets and then blog (with a straight face now) that RHP would have a prayer.
RHP beat MHS soundly last year and got beat by a MHS team missing key position players this year (Finchamp stop your whining, you scouted MHS you know who was out and what positions they played).
As far as your logic about RHP beat MHS big and then MHS lost by 1 point to ST. M in the rain in the CIF final - hey "That is why they play the game". Because of the math, don't assume you would have beaten St. M - That was last year, this is this year. St. M is a new team, new program. Same with MHS -
You got beat by MHS and Brentwood this year period. Next year is a new chance for you to get that monkey off your back and show MHS and Brentwood it was a fluke win.
I understand you are doing well in league so good luck, stick it to 'em, and I hope RHP will schedule MHS again next year at MHS so the boys can play on a real field with enough seats so everyone can get a seat.
finchamp -
Sorry, evidently I touched a nerve.
Enjoy your team - no offense intended.
I'm sure you will bounce back next season and beat Maranatha and St. Margarets and Flintridge and Brentwood again.
Best of luck.
lovefootball--
There you go again pumping up Maranatha and slighting everyone else. Five starters sidelined and a sophomore QB--one that was held back a year, right? Get over yourself and let the boys do the talking on the field.
RH Prep beat St. Margarets on their way to the championship two years ago. A 7-0 victory over RHP in a game statistically in favor of RHP , except the score, is a long way from removing the monkey from your back.
Finchamp is not a he-man. There will be someone to replace him next year and they'll be talking about that kid then. The credit goes to solid coaching and great line play and savvy kid that can find his way around. I can say all that without having to evoke how much we love our players, our coaches and the fact that they all choose to follow God because if I do I end up sounding like a MHS blogger.
New York--
When Trevor was young we worked on kicking the ball between the goal posts--when he learned you got twice as many points with a TD he wanted to run the ball. Not to complain but no mention of his field goal in the game---I think he is 7 for 8 in league with the shortest being 33 yards. Rio Hondo please do not let him drive the bus!
no prep team has a chance with the realignment in CIF - they end up playing teams with 5 -7 x the enrollment. Poly had there best team ever last year - undefeated and got beat soundly by a team that had 5 - 7x the enrollment.
Smallschools,
Don't forget that if Rio beats Chadwick, Flintridge beats Poly, and Viewpoint beats Webb (a very realistic scenario), their will be a three way tie between Poly, Chadwick, and Viewpoint for the third Prep League playoff spot. I believe that if that scenario plays out, the three teams will fight it out on Saturday morning for the final spot.
Its really a shame what CIF did to all of the prep league teams with last years realignment. I have watched Poly football for many years and last years team was better than both the 99 and 01 Poly CIF championship teams, yet being in the new East Valley Division the Panthers got destroyed in the 2nd round by a 2 seed.
Big Daddy, for all the reasons you mention in the post below, none of the Prep League teams, including Flintridge, have a chance of getting out of the first round.
Preleague
Correct. my mistake. But I would say had CIF not bumped up the Prep league a divison prior to last season then Poly would have won a CIF title. The division Prep League has been moved up to has huge schools yet the enrollment in most the Prep league schools is between 330-400 kids. Rio only has 86 kids total. San Jacinto had 150 kids try out for football. Really going to be tough for a Prep League Scholl to compete against school 5 to 7 times larger. I still feel Prep League belongs in the same division as Maranantha ( 750 kids) Brentwood , Whittier.
Big Daddy,
You wrote "Had Rio been in the same division as Maranatha last year they would have had back to back CIF championships." Wait, didn't Rio lose 20-0 and finish second in the Prep League to Poly last year? Short memory.
Love football:
To refresh your memory: Last year RHP 37 Mar 0
Year before RHP 50 Mar 0
04 Rhp 49 Mar 32
Small Schools
Flintridge will beat Poly and give whoever they play in CIF a good battle. I thought they were one tough team. Wish them the best.
So this week, Rio beats Flintridge, Poly beats Webb, and Viewpoint crushes Chadwick. Assuming Rio beats Chadwick this week, that makes the Flintridge-Poly game on Thursday more interesting. If Flintridge wins, they are 4-1 and in second place in league. If Poly wins, Flintridge and Poly are 3-2 in league and Chadwick is out of the playoffs, as only 3 teams qualify.
To:Love football. check your numbers. The 7 points scored by Maranantha was the only points scored in 3 years. They lost last year and the 2 years previously. Also the division Rio is in now is much stronger then division 13. Rio beat St. Margerets when they played them in CIF. Had Rio been in the same division as Maranatha last year they would have had back to back CIF championships. They beat Maranantha easily and Maranantha barely lost to St. Margerets. CIF moved the entire Prep League out of the division with Whittier etc due to Prep league took CIF 3 years in a row with Poly, Flintridge and Maranantha.
Dinner says Maranantha gets beat soundly if they paly RIO next year. Check your history as you aew way off.
hey lovefootball
Rio hondo prep is a good team that alomost and should of beat both brentwood and maranatha. Flintridge prep is a better team than the last two years, and they played rio hondo hard and almost came back in the fourth, if they had not fumbled. I believe flintridge prep did not even play close to their best game. flintridge prep plays maranatha, it would be a close game.
Big Daddy -
Be careful what you wish for. Beating Prep is easy, Maranatha has blown Prep out the past two years. Schedule St. Margaret's next year and see if you are ready for Maranatha / Brentwood / Whittier's league.
Having beaten RHP when MHS played a horrible game and playing Brentwood Thursday night, I would say staying out of this division should be job one for your AD.
Lastly, before you wish again for Maranatha, please remember they got that monkey off their back with a third string sophomore QB and FIVE of their starter positions on the sidelines.
ScottG says Finchamp scored 4 touchdowns for RHP. What would the final score be if he was on the sidelines?
Scott, Nice to see you at the game. Do you believe the size of the crowd Rio draws? Too bad for the slow start because right now they would be ready for Maranantha or Brentwood and possibly different results. We will see how they do in CIF. Too bad they are not in the division with Brentwood where I feel they belong. Instead this school of 86 kids will battle schools of over 1000. If you like to cheer the underdog come to the playoff games.
Congratulations, Paul. Nice work. Does Trevor have keys to the school bus as well?