Rio Hondo Prep soaking in the CIF Finals experience
WESTMINSTER -- The last time Rio Hondo Prep won a CIF-Southern Section football championship was in 2005.
At the time, Antonio Alanis, Tim Esguerra, Eddie Garcia and Julian Hernandez were playing on the freshman squad.
They witnessed the glory that is high school athletics.
Three years later, Alanis, Esguerra, Garcia and Hernandez found themselves at the center of it all when they attended Monday's CIF-Southern Section football press conference and luncheon at the Rose Center in Orange County.
Some teams came in shorts, polo shirts and tennis shoes but the Kares players looked gentlemanly and royally, wearing white collar shirts and a tie tucked inside their black, cotton vest that had an "RHP" crest on the left pocket-side.
Rio Hondo Prep coach Ken Drain has been to quite a few of these. One of his assistants, Mark Carson, also attended but, along with Esguerra, couldn't contain themselves from taking a picture of the guest speaker.
USC football coach Pete Carroll took the podium and out came the digital cameras. Carroll's presence in the podium commanded attention, enough for Esguerra to put down the brownie ice cream sundae and take a picture of Carroll.
A surreal experience it was for the seniors.
"Pete Carroll was here so that was pretty special," Drain said. "It's always kind of the same routine but for the kids it's a fun experience."
But Monday's luncheon wasn't the ultimate stop. It was just the beginning of what lies ahead.
The Kares will play host to Riverside Christian on Saturday night at 7 in the CIF-Southern Section Northeast Division championship game.
The road to the title game wasn't all glitz and glamour. There were some squalor times, too.
The Kares endured a see-saw of emotions in their schedule.
After opening the season with a resounding 34-0 win over Mojave in the dessert, the Kares lost on a last-second field goal to Brentwood, 28-26. After soundly beating Sage Hill, 56-0, Rio Hondo Prep lost two in a row to Maranatha (14-7) and Chadwick (20-7) to open Prep League play.
Five weeks into the season and the Kares found themselves with a 2-3 record after such a promising start.
But through the rubbles, Rio Hondo Prep found its form and are on a 7-game winning streak and they're hoping to make it eight by the weekend.
"I think it shows the commitment to work and improve every week, that's what it comes down to," Drain said. "After that loss to Chadwick the kids pulled together and said they were better than this. They worked harder every week and that's what it takes."
When Carroll spoke to the teams his words rang true to Drain's ideology and it's what he hammered home during a stretch in which the Kares may have had some doubts as to how good they were.
"I think it's exactly what Carroll was talking about," he said. "You have to take care of your own business. You can't worry so much about the other team or who you're playing. You have to take care of yourself and what you can control and what you can do to make yourselves better."
ESGUERRA READY
Rio Hondo Prep running back Tim Esguerra suffered a mild concussion early in last week's game against Linfield Christian. He did not play the rest of the game.
Esguerra, whose rushed for 738 yards and nine touchdowns this season, is expected to play Saturday.
"We're going to keep him out of practice and without the contact, all week" Drain said. "But he'll be ready to play on Saturday."
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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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Hi there, thanks for the great post, a truly great opening to the 2010, keep up the excellent work, Tracy.
its ok miguel- thanks for having faith in RHP for a change. I was beginning to think you were following Robledo's steps.
RHP Football is the best of Sports:
For those who don't understand football or the importance of sports - observe RHP Football. It's all about sacrifice, brotherhood, commitment and teamwork. At RHP everyone is involved and everyone is important (i.e. your article about Martin, Lo and Shu 12/11/08). My understanding is RHP has no sports scholarships, only 45 high school boys and they field two eleven man football teams with their varsity in the CIF finals. How does that happen? Answer: sacrifice, brotherhood, commitment and teamwork. This is the microcosm of the true American Spirit. This is the best life lesson any young man can learn. No matter the score Saturday, RHP football has already accomplished the best education in life - teaching sacrifice, brotherhood, commitment and teamwork.
Miguel,
It's okay for PSN to include photos of THIS years Rio Hondo Prep team (Black Helmets).
It's also okay to come to one of their games to report first hand. Unless RHP wins Saturday and then gets chosen as the CIF Small School Southern Section State finalist, instead of St. Margarets and Parker, you would have reported on a championship team that you haven't seen play live!
You get a pass this year but come next, I'll expect to see you in the front row with a Kare combo in your hands!
Keep up the good work, Miguel.
Ah Miquel--
It is the little things. The saying goes, "the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little 'extra.'" Winning is not new at RHP nor are any of the formalities associated with "game day" at Rio. The boys start wearing collared shirts and ties on game day in junior high. In high school game days are preceeded by a team dinner and motivational talk the night before. It is laced with tradition and some of it harkens to a time gone by. I give the Kares a 7 point advantage due to their history of bring in the big game on multiple occasions, the home field advantage and most important the continuity of coaching at RHP.
Back to my opening comment. Just to clarify a few things you have goofed on of late--chalk it up to many hours on the beat I suppose. RHP beat Mohave at home not in the desert (although your reference with two s's implied at an after dinner treat). The Kares did not open league play with losses to Maranatha and Brentwood--they are nonleague games. And your Tuesday article stated the Alaniz had 271 rushing yards but the Sunday column had it right referencing his 271 all-purpose yards. Antonio is a stud at this level and will transition well into hoops as will Esquerra.
I know you knew little or nothing about RHP when you came aboard and I suspect the same holds true of Maranatha however their bloggers got to you I think. Faithful bloggers know that the Kares are special, that RHP doesn't big time themselves suggesting "bring on St. Francis." They just go out and get it done. Good luck Kares!