CARLSBAD – Every time Rio Hondo Prep punched, Santa Fe Christian punched back in a classic between undefeated teams for the CIF State South Division 2-A regional championship on Saturday at Carlsbad High School.

Rio Hondo Prep recovered an onside kick in the final seconds to hang on for a 26-21 victory, and with it, they captured their second straight regional title.

It wasn’t easy. Both teams did what they do well.

Sante Fe Christian quarterback Dax Labrum gave the Kares fits, passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns, including a six-yard touchdown pass to Chase Woolley with 57 seconds left to trim the Kares’ lead to five points.

But the Kares batted the onside kick away to clinch it, and breathed a big sigh of relief.

The Kares advance to next week’s Division 2-A state championship

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