High School

Vanden outlasts Rio Hondo Prep in overtime thriller for CIF State Division 3-A Championship: Live updates recap

Vanden stops Rio Hondo Prep’s two-point conversion attempt to claim 42-41 victory 

Bob Lundeberg

Vanden quarterback Kalani Mcleod.
Vanden quarterback Kalani Mcleod. / Donn Parris

Vanden (12-2) will take on Rio Hondo Prep (13-1) in Saturday’s CIF State Division 3-A Championship.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific time at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Long Beach City College.

Vanden is seeking its second state championship in four seasons while underdog Rio Hondo Prep will play for its first state title. 

The Vikings have won eight straight games, including a 28-14 victory over Pleasant Valley in the 3-A Regional Finals. Senior quarterback Kalani Mcleod, one of the most prolific passers in California, has thrown for 4,090 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. 

The Kares, who downed Poway 28-14 in the Regional Finals, have also piled up eight consecutive victories. 

Vanden vs. Rio Hondo Prep Live Updates Recap

First quarter

Coin toss: Vanden wins the toss and defers to the second half. Rio Hondo Prep will receive to begin the game. 

Kares punt: Rio Hondo Prep goes three-and-out on its opening drive. Vanden takes over at midfield. 

Contrasting styles: Vanden goes with five wide receivers on its first offensive play. Rio Hondo Prep is a power running team. Both offenses are quite effective. 

Touchdown Vikings: Zach Tayeh opens the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run that was set up by a 25-yard connection between quarterback Kalani Mcleod and Logan Bailey. PAT no good. Vanden 6, Rio Hondo Prep 0, 6:54 remaining in the quarter. 

Touchdown Kares: Rio Hondo Prep utilizes some misdirection with an inside counter play, and Noah Penunuri scampers 62 yards to the end zone. Rio Hondo Prep 7, Vanden 6, 4:52 remaining in the period. 

Vikings driving: Chris Clark with a big catch-and-run to the Rio Hondo Prep 33. 

Touchdown Vikings: Kalani Mcleod finds Jaishon East for a six-yard touchdown. Vanden 13, Rio Hondo Prep 7, 1:52 to go in the quarter.

End of quarter: Vanden 13, Rio Hondo Prep 7.

Second quarter

Kares on the move: Rio Hondo Prep has a first-and-10 at the Vanden 12 after another strong Noah Penunuri run. 

Touchdown Kares: Noah Penunuri punches it in from two yards out to give Rio Hondo Prep a 14-13 lead. That was a long, methodical drive by the Kares. 6:39 remaining in the half.

Vikings punt: Rio Hondo Prep gets its first stop of the game with a big sack of Kalani Mcleod. Elijah Gavia and Ivan Tkach teamed up on the third-down sack. Kares take over at their own 26. 

Big play Kares: Nathaniel Curtis explodes for 51 yards on a toss play and is brought down at the 5. 

Touchdown Kares: Caeden Holcomb smashes it in from one yard out. Rio Hondo Prep 21, Vanden 13, 1:19 left in the half. 

Touchdown Vikings: On fourth-and-one from the 5, Kalani Mcleod escapes a tackle for loss and powers his way into the end zone for a touchdown. What a play by the senior quarterback. Jaishon East then catches a deflected two-point conversion pass, and we are all tied in Long Beach. Vanden 21, Rio Hondo Prep 21. 16 seconds remaining in the half. 

End of half: Vanden 21, Rio Hondo Prep 21.

Halftime

Rio Hondo Prep stats: Noah Penunuri 13 carries, 117 yards, two touchdowns; Nathaniel Curtis six carries, 92 yards

Vanden stats: Kalani Mcleod 13 of 20 passing, 216 yards, two total touchdowns; Chris Clark five catches, 81 yards 

Third quarter

Surprise onside kick: Rio Hondo Prep opens the second half with an onside kick, and the Kares recover it at the Vanden 49. What a start to the third quarter. 

Touchdown Kares: Noah Penunuri punches it in from one yard out to cap another strong Kares drive. Rio Hondo Prep 28, Vanden 21, 7:07 remaining in the period. 

Big play Vikings: Caleb Jones makes an incredible catch to save a surefire interception. First-and-10 Vanden from its own 38. 

Touchdown Vikings: Kalani Mcleod hits Chris Clark for a 13-yard touchdown. Vanden 28, Rio Hondo Prep 28. 2:35 left in the quarter. 

Failed onside kick: Vanden pulls a Rio Hondo Prep and tries an onside kick of its own. This time it doesn’t work, and the Kares will begin at the Vanden 41 following a penalty. Really alert play by Calogero Chico to call for a fair catch on the short pooch kick. 

End of quarter: Vanden 28, Rio Hondo Prep 28. Kares have it at the Vanden 25. 

Fourth quarter

Timeout Vanden: With Rio Hondo Prep facing a fourth-and-four from the 14, Vanden takes a defensive timeout. 

Touchdown Kares: Who else? On fourth down, Noah Penunuri runs it in from 14 yards out for his fourth touchdown of the game. The junior back is unbelievable. Rio Hondo Prep 35, Vanden 28, 8:16 remaining.

Huge kick return: Chris Clark busts a big kick return around the left side and is dragged down at the Rio Hondo Prep 33. 

Timeout Vikings: Vanden takes its second timeout ahead of a second-and-goal from the 2. 3:51 remains on the clock. If the Vikings score here, will they go for two? 

Touchdown Vikings: Zack Tayeh punches it in. Vanden initially chooses to go for a two-point conversion, but switches to a PAT after a false start penalty. Vanden 35, Rio Hondo Prep 35. 3:49 left for the Kares. 

Kares take over: Rio Hondo Prep’s potential game-winning drive begins at its own 38. 

Fourth-down conversion: Noah Penunuri converts on a fourth-and-one. Kares have it at the Vanden 49. 

Kares on the verge: Rio Hondo Prep rides Noah Penunuri on another fourth-and-one, and Nathaniel Curtis pops the next run down to the 15. 45 seconds remaining. That was a tremendous effort by Curtis.

Missed field goal: Rio Hondo Prep’s 36-yard field goal slips just wide left. Vanden takes over at the 20 with 8 seconds remaining. We are likely heading to overtime. What. A. Game. 

End of regulation:  Vanden 35, Rio Hondo Prep 35. The final game at Veterans Memorial Stadium will require overtime. 

Overtime

Vikings ball: Vanden will get the first possession in overtime. Just like college, the drive starts at the opposing team’s 25. 

Touchdown Vikings: On fourth-and-four, Kalani Mcleod hits Keitaro Davis in the back of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. Vanden 42, Rio Hondo Prep 35. 

Kares timeout: Rio Hondo Prep calls timeout before a fourth-and-goal from the 2. Kares need two yards to stay alive in this game. 

Touchdown Kares: Noah Penunuri does it again, scoring for the fifth time tonight. Rio Hondo Prep will go for two and the win.

Two-point try fails: Rio Hondo Prep runs a toss sweep left to Noah Penunuri, and he is brought down short of the goal line. Vanden 42, Rio Hondo Prep 41. What an incredible game. The Kares come up one yard short of their first state championship. 

Final stats: Noah Penunuri ran for 238 yards and five touchdowns. Kalani Mcleod threw for 404 yards and three touchdowns while running for a score. 

Pregame

Last game at Veterans Stadium: Vanden and Rio Hondo Prep will be the last two teams to face off at Long Beach City College’s historic Veterans Memorial Stadium. The stadium, which opened in 1950, is set to be demolished and replaced after LBCC’s 2025 commencement. 

Weather: We are under an hour until kickoff, and it’s going to be a beautiful night for football in Long Beach. We’ll be in the mid-50s at kickoff with no precipitation in the forecast. 

Vanden offensive leaders: Senior quarterback Kalani Mcleod (250 of 349 passing, 4,090 yards, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions); Senior running back Zack Tayeh (133 carries, 711 yards, 13 total touchdowns); Senior wide receiver Logan Bailey (90 catches, 1,268 yards, nine touchdowns); Senior wide receiver Chris Clark (46 catches, 985 yards, 11 touchdowns)

Rio Hondo Prep offensive leaders: Junior quarterback Yanick Diaz (46 of 88 passing, 771 yards, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions); Junior running back Noah Penunuri (201 carries, 1,733 yards, 28 total touchdowns); Senior ruining back Nathaniel Curtis (85 carries, 961 yards, 18 total touchdowns)

Vanden defensive leaders: Senior defensive back Jamarion Grace (three interceptions); Junior defensive back Eamon Lacy (two interceptions)

Rio Hondo Prep defensive leaders: Junior linebacker Rainn Pollock (36 total tackles, five interceptions, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries); Senior linebacker Caedan Holcomb (76 total tackles, eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble receivers, six quarterback hurries)

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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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Bob Lundeberg
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