Rio Hondo Prep football tradition is unlike any other, forging another CIF final appearance

All Rio Hondo Prep freshmen boys are expected to be part of the football program in some capacity, creating a winning tradition unlike any other

When you crunch the numbers, it's a head scratcher.

Rio Hondo Prep in Arcadia has just 66 boys in the entire high school, including a freshman class of 19. The student body - with girls - totals 120.

Despite the small numbers, the expectation and tradition at RHP is unlike any other, and frankly, it's refreshing to hear.

"When you come to Rio, everyone is expected to play football," coach Mark Carson said. "We want you to try it freshman year and then if you don't like it, you don't want to continue, that's fine. But you're going to be part of the program in some way: a manager, being in the band, do media, something like that, and support the team in some manner."

Rio Hondo Prep poses for a photo at the CIF Luncheon at the Grand in Long Beach on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 :: Heston Quan/SBLive

Carson has been at the school for 21 years. He's been the head football coach for seven seasons. The all-in culture at Rio Hondo Prep has been the foundation for its success.

"It's the norm at Rio. We are in it together," Carson said. "It's a great challenge we embrace."

The Kares (12-1) are headed to their seventh 11-man CIF final in program history when they travel to Santa Monica High (9-4) to play in the Division 9 championship on Friday night at 7 p.m. 

Rio Hondo Prep is 4-2 all-time in 11-man CIF finals and won its last appearance in 2012, winning the Northeast Division. The program has 10 8-man football CIF championships.

The program has a varsity and freshman team, and a few freshmen will suit up Friday night, making for a tight-knit, strong championship roster of 37 players.

It's not rare for small high schools to share athletes, but the way Rio Hondo Prep does it is unheard of.

"We had to cancel our basketball season opener because every boy on the varsity basketball team is playing football," Carson said. "We'll have to cancel more basketball games if we keep winning."

Carson added with a laugh: "We have a tournament next week."

The basketball team was scheduled to play Pasadena Marshall Tuesday. If Rio Hondo Prep comes up short in football Friday night, the boys will suit up to play Arroyo Valley in basketball on Monday, Nov. 27 without a practice.

"I'll pass out uniforms and we'll get out there," Carson said.

Rio Hondo Prep was in attendance for the CIF Luncheon at the Grand in Long Beach Monday afternoon. Four of the players that came to the luncheon are standouts on the football team, and play on the basketball team: junior RB/LB Nate Curtis, senior QB/K Alex Mustain, senior DL/OL Colby Johnson and senior LB/TE Joshua Taflinger.

"They haven't touched a basketball," Carson said.

That's okay, they're busy prepping for a CIF football final.

CIF Southern Section football championship matchups, info for Divisions 1-14