Faith Baptist, Rio Hondo Prep to Square Off for 8-Man Title

The championship game of the Southern Section 8-man large-schools division will pit the division’s top two seeded teams against each other today at 1 p.m., when unbeaten and top-ranked Rio Hondo Prep plays at second-ranked Faith Baptist.

Faith Baptist (9-1), which has won six consecutive games, will have to overcome a Rio Hondo Prep team that is 9-0 and competing in its seventh championship game since 1977.

Rio Hondo Prep won titles in 1977, ’79 and ’82.

Faith Baptist, which has reached the playoffs 10 consecutive years, will make its first title appearance since 1985. The Contenders, who last won a championship in 1984, have averaged 43 points and 346 yards a game.

Faith Baptist quarterback Gavin Amos has completed 70 of 134 passes for 1,080 yards and 19 touchdowns. Sophomore running back James DeCarriere (5-foot-9, 155 pounds) has rushed 164 times for 980 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Wingback Alex Estrada, who scored five touchdowns during a 44-20 win over Brentwood in a semifinal game last week, has carried 80 times for 756 yards. Estrada also has 32 receptions for 454 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Faith Baptist’s offensive line is anchored by tackles John Miller (5-11, 165) and John Grund (6-1, 200). Grund, also a nose tackle, leads the defense along with linebackers Fernando Garcia (6-3, 180) and Amos.