A Charge To Keep

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...

Rio Hondo Prep improved to 3-0 with a dominating 43-0 win over Maranatha on the road. The Kares played inspired football due the absence of their fearless leader Head Coach Mark Carson who was dealing with an unexpected medical issue. Not only did Rio play a complete 4 quarter game, but they did so with contributions from a wide range of players. Today we are blessed to have Coach Carson on for hi...

Rio Hondo Prep makes their first road trip of the season on a short week to face the Maranatha Minutemen on Thursday night. Both teams are 2-0 much like last year's matchup and each have their own contrasting styles. The Minutemen have one of the area's top quarterbacks that could potentially be a major problem for the Kares if they cannot get to him to disrupt his rhythm. Rio needs to find some c...

Rio Hondo Prep improved to 2-0 after a 28-21 victory over the Quartz Hill Royals. The Kares trailed in the 4th Quarter and had to put together two decisive drives to retake the lead on both of their final possessions of the game. Head Coach Mark Carson shares his excitement for the fact that his team is responding to adversity in the best way possible. HCMC is confident the team will continue to g...

Quartz Hill makes the long trip from Lancaster to Irwindale this Friday night to take on Rio Hondo Prep. The Royals might be coming off a tough loss in their opener last week, but this program has seen plenty of great success in recent years with Southern Section Championships in 2017 and 2021. Our guest this week is Jake Lyons who graduated from RHP in 2020. Jake played a part on one of Rio's...

In the opening game of the 2025 Season, the Rio Hondo Prep Kares answered major adversity with a resounding response. After trailing the Schurr Spartans for most of the 1st Half and without their best player, RHP flipped a switch that led to suffocating defense pressure and 3 explosive Touchdowns on offense. The Kares took the game over in the 2nd Half and came away with a 20-9 victory. Head Coach...

The long wait is officially over. It is game week for the Rio Hondo Prep Kares as they host the Schurr Spartans in what many could argue is the most anticipated Opener since Rio took on Arcadia back in 2012. Our very special guest, Tarek Fattal, will help us kickoff the 2025 Season with a bang. You can find Tarek on CBS alongside Jim Hill on Sundays as Fattal shares his thoughts on high school spo...

We are just one week away from kicking off the 2025 Football Season. As we close out our Senior Sons episodes, the parents of Yanick Diaz and Tyler Dang take us across the finish line. Both of their sons are Team Captains this year and have made massive contributions to both Championship runs in 2023 and 2024. Diaz and Dang have hit on plenty of big plays in the passing game over the years as a Qu...

As the boys are back on the practice field, we hear from another couple of moms and dads from our Senior Families. Today we have the parents of Easton Jara and Jacob Gomez to discuss what the past 3 years at Rio Hondo Prep have meant to their families. Both young men arrived at RHP under very different circumstances, and it goes to show you just how special the Rio recipe can be with a wide range...

In another edition of our Senior Sons episodes, we are joined by the parents of Elijah Gavia and Jace Frary. Both families share the importance of how Rio Hondo Prep has helped in the development of their young men and how the program sets itself apart from anything else out there because of everything it offers. Elijah Gavia has been the big man in the trenches for his whole career at RHP and has...

In the latest edition of the Senior Sons episodes during our Summer podcasts, we are joined by the parents of Calogero Chico and Diego Raygoza. Both of these young men have been with the program for the last 3 years and are poised to get their name on a 3rd Banner in the Stivers Center down on campus. Chico has been one of Rio's best pound for pound players all around and is a gritty tackler. Rayg...

As we continue our Senior Sons episodes, we are joined by the parents of Rainn Pollock and Nathaniel Shine. Both of these Seniors have played Varsity since they were Freshmen, and their families have plenty of fond memories to reflect on over the past three seasons. Rainn and Nathaniel have made several huge plays on Defense over the years but don't be surprised if they put up some numbers on...

As we begin a string of episodes with the families of our new batch of Seniors, the proud parents of David Reyes and Noah Penunuri get things started. Both families reside in the city of Glendora and I am proud to call them neighbors. We reflect on the past two incredible football seasons and how excited they are as their sons begin one final chapter of their playing careers at Rio Hondo Prep. Whe...

The boys are back in town from their 4 week Tour of Europe. The Rio Football Team traveled all over the Continent as their journey took them to England, Germany, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy. Head Coach Mark Carson recaps "The Trip," as it is known among the RHP Family, and takes us behind the scenes of a month that is not comparable to another experience any teenage...

Rio Hondo Prep opens the 2025 Season with a highly anticipated showdown against the Schurr Spartans from Montebello on August 22nd. This is arguably the biggest matchup of all the Week 0 games in the San Gabriel Valley. Austin Montoya is the new Head Coach at Schurr HS after serving as an Assistant the past few seasons. His first game will be against the back to back CIF-SS Champion RHP Kares and...

There were roughly a dozen players on last year's championship team that got their start playing football under the coaching of Mr Don Mosher who has dedicated his life in service to Kare Youth League. Mr Mosher is as humble as they come and today we honor him as our very special guest to celebrate the 4th of July. Don was drafted in 1969 and served a tour in Vietnam as a Sergeant and Squad Leader...

You can find Jeff Fairley on the Rio Hondo Prep sideline every football season. He intently observes the action and patiently stands at the ready in case his services are needed. Dr Fairley specializes in Physical Therapy and is one of the highly qualified members of the RHP Medical Team. As a 1992 Rio grad himself, he knows just how committed the Kares are to fighting for their team. We discuss w...

Doug Walsh has been the official Team Doctor for Rio Hondo Prep Football for countless decades. As a Rio alum himself, he understands just how important the program is and why it continues to be so special. Dr Walsh was a key contributor for the 1977 CIF Champions who defeated Montclair Prep in the legendary Triple Overtime thriller. He talks about his days playing along some memorable teammates a...

Jason McMains has been the Head Coach at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside the past 4 seasons. In the 2nd Round of the 2024 CIF-SS Playoffs, his football team squared off against Rio Hondo Prep. Coach McMains was not sure what to expect that night. He had heard of RHP before, but like most teams out there, you need to battle them between the lines to truly understand their program. Coach...

As we kickoff the fourth season of the Charge To Keep podcast, there are countless blessings to reflect on. The 16 time Southern Section Champions are coming off back to back titles and a loss in the State Final by 1 yard. The one question to be asked of the Rio Program is: Are You Satisfied? Head Coach Mark Carson helps us kickstart another season of Rio Hondo Football with some insight into the...

Rio Hondo Prep will take on University High School from Irvine in the CIF Southern Section Finals this Friday morning at 10:00am. Although RHP is the designated home team, the Trojans will feel right at home with the game being played at Deanna Manning Stadium just 3 miles from their campus. The Kares reached the Championship Game only one previous time 46 years ago back in 1979. The 2025 squad co...

For the first time in 45 years, Rio Hondo Prep is back in the CIF Softball Semifinals. Rio's best finish ever was as a Runner Up back in 1979 as well as a return trip to the Semis in 1980. After three big wins this postseason, the 2025 Kares are among the final four teams standing in the Division 6 Southern Section Playoffs. Rio Hondo is coming off a dramatic 12-11 win over Katella in the Quarterf...

The Rio Hondo Prep Girls Basketball Program is ready for its Postseason appearance after another successful year on the hardwood. The Kares are a young group consisting of only Juniors and Freshmen. Rio is led by Tara Riley who has been a standout in all RHP Athletics for the past 3 years. Tara is our guest today to tell us a little bit about herself as well as shed light on the Rio Hondo experien...

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...

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 opposit...