Rio Hondo Prep Routs El Rancho 41-14
Rio Hondo Prep advances to the Division 8 semifinals with a 41-14 quarterfinal win over El Rancho in Arcadia.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Football
Rio Hondo Prep defeated El Rancho 41-14 on Friday at Arcadia High School in the Division 8 quarterfinals. Matthew Montez rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Why it matters
The victory extends Rio Hondo Prep's run of section playoff success, with the program now riding 14 straight section playoff wins. It sets up a road semifinal against Segerstrom for a team that enters with a 9-3 record.
Matthew Montez rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while El Rancho quarterback Adrian Lopez threw for 108 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Rio Hondo Prep's 14 straight section playoff wins is the figure to watch as the Division 8 field narrows.
The players
Rio Hondo Prep
Rio Hondo Prep is a Southern Section high school football program that won the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship in the prior season.
Segerstrom High School
Segerstrom High School is a Santa Ana public high school whose football team is the next opponent for Rio Hondo Prep in the Division 8 semifinals.
The details
Montez scored a 54-yard touchdown run on Rio Hondo Prep's opening drive, and Donald Scheffler threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Elias Har in the third quarter. Elias Har scored two touchdowns for Rio Hondo Prep in the 41-14 win.
Timeline
Friday: Rio Hondo Prep defeats El Rancho 41-14 in the Division 8 quarterfinals at Arcadia High School.
Next week: Rio Hondo Prep plays Segerstrom in the semifinals on the road.
Season Trajectory
Rio Hondo Prep's prior-season CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship and current streak of 14 straight section playoff wins place this result within a sustained run of postseason success. The semifinal against Segerstrom will test whether that run continues at the next level of the Division 8 bracket.
With the semifinal next week, Rio Hondo Prep's season now hinges on a road trip to Segerstrom for a spot in the Division 8 final. Fans tracking the bracket can follow the outcome of the semifinal to see which program advances.
The takeaway
Playoff momentum in high school football often depends on the ability to win on the road, and Rio Hondo Prep faces that test in its next game against Segerstrom.
What happens next
Rio Hondo Prep plays Segerstrom in the Division 8 semifinals next week on the road.
Further reading
Follow the next round of the bracket in our Football coverage.
