Happy Thanksgiving! I am a few days early but we should celebrate all week! I start off with a breakdown of the intense Porter/Crawford fight on Saturday where 2 friends battled each other for 10 solid rounds. Speaking of rivalries, USC Football has reached a breaking point after another embarring new low for the program. The walls of Troy have officially been breached after giving up 62 to the Bruins. I also ramble about pepperoni being overrated on pizza, Hard Knocks In Season, new coffee adventures, and how some guys just have to talk about their achievements. Finally, I offer my thoughts on the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

Robby Burns is a Professional Snowboarder and is poised to become a member of the upcoming United States Olympic Team in 2022. He won two national championships at the University of Idaho before pursuing a dream of representing his country. Robby finished third a few years ago when the USA only sent two snowboarders to the Olympics. He will talk about the mental maturity of training and the emotions of getting so close to something you've trained for throughout your entire life. In the "offseason," Robby is also a Wilderness Firefighter in the Mount Shasta area of Northern California where his passion to train and prepare continues. We will all be cheering loudly for Robby in the Olympics in a few months. Winter is coming....

Middle of the week randomness. I ramble about the importance of self defense and the Rams embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Other topics include what it would be like to have a film review of your daily life with a coach and how sometimes you find exactly what you're looking for on a menu. In addition, don't get hit in the head by a skateboard, red jerseys don't always mean they aren't allowed to get hit, and the NFL is one big roller coaster.

Rio Hondo Prep's season came to an end on Friday night with a 34-20 loss to Saint Pius in the 2nd Round of the Division 7 Playoffs. It may be over but the memories from the 2021 season will be remembered forever. Head Coach Mark Carson joins the show to talk about the team's emotional finish and the program moving forward. Senior Captain Paul Alena also chats with me about the great class of 2022 and what his RHP experience has been like. It has been an incredible year that propelled the Kares to new heights. Alumni, fans, and parents could not be more proud of this team in their representation of Rio Hondo Prep. We will miss watching many of them play, but as Coach Carson often says, "We're just getting started...."

Arman Aubakirov is a Pastor and Christian publisher from Kazakhstan. He recently spent a few months as a coaching intern with the Rio Hondo Prep football team. Arman found a passion for football after playing it back in his home country. He connected with former USC/NFL Coach Rocky Seto who directed him to work at RHP. Arman fell in love with the program and thoroughly enjoyed building relationships with the players. He has since returned home to continue his work in Christian ministry and coaching football. Arman remains dedicated to spreading the Gospel and living his life in service to the Lord.

Middle of the week randomness. Still coming down emotionally from the big Rio Hondo Prep football win over Charter Oak. Very excited for the Second Round matchup against St Pius X St Matthias this Friday at home. We have two excellent guests upcoming on the next two Fridays. The coverage of RHP football has been a blast and I'm already making big plans for next season. In a moment of humility, I look back at my preseason NFL predictions at the halfway point. I'm excited about some of my favorite TV shows premiering new seasons, and I briefly offer my thoughts on a couple great fights from the weekend. I also ramble about oblivious dog owners and how opinions of people can change. It was ALMOST a perfect weekend.

Rio Hondo Prep defeated Charter Oak 37-30 in the 1st Round of the Division 7 Playoffs on Friday night. The victory shocked a lot of local football fans, but for those who have seen RHP over the years, it should come as no surprise. It was a battle of many former Kare Youth League members from both sides of the field. Rio Hondo Prep has won 14 CIF Southern Section Championships, but this win was arguably the biggest non title in their illustrious history. Head Coach Mark Carson often says, "We're just getting started." This couldn't be more true today as the RHP Football tradition has reached new heights and the sky is the limit. For those that still doubt the legitimacy of the smallest school in California to play 11 man football, I challenge you to reconsider after one of the most inspiring performances I've seen at any level.

Valerie Johnson has been a teacher at both Pearl Prep and Rio Hondo Prep. She has taught many different age groups and is also married a teacher who happened to be one of the best athletes to ever play at RHP. Valerie has a unique perspective having not just one but two sons who play on the current Rio Hondo Prep football team. As Rio goes into one of the biggest games in in school history this Friday night, Valerie shares what it's like to be a team mom and how special it is for her family to carry on the Johnson family football legacy.

A final breakdown on the huge 1st round playoff matchup between Rio Hondo Prep and Charter Oak. These two schools have been the most consistent football programs in the area from their respective sides of the 605 freeway. CO has won 5 CIF Championships and RHP has been crowned champs 14 times, albeit at much lower divisions than the Chargers. I offer my thoughts on why this game is the biggest in Rio's illustrious history and list my top 10 most memorable playoff games I've seen the Kares play in over the years.

Rio Hondo Prep finished the regular season with a 9-1 record. They will travel to Charter Oak High School in the 1st Round of the CIF Playoffs this Friday. This highly anticipated matchup is a dream opportunity for the Kares to play one of the premier programs in the San Gabriel Valley. Charter Oak has always had many former Kare Youth League members on their teams in the past and this year is no different. I was joined by a few members of the RHP coaching staff for their instant reaction. Rio has taken on large public schools before, but this game will be one to remember forever.