Twelve Bridges opens 2025 with new squad and statement win after CIF State loss
It wasn’t quite the start head coach Chris Bean was looking for.
His new quarterback, senior Connor Frontiera, began his career as a starter with an interception on Twelve Bridges’ first offensive series of the season.
But Frontiera bounced back and threw three touchdown passes while helping the Raging Rhinos roll, 42-7, Friday night on the road in their season opener against Christian Brothers.
“What I loved about him, is he wasn’t affected by it,” Bean said of Frontiera. “He said, ‘Well, I just got to rebound.’ Then we came back out and we fumbled the ball. And I’m like, we’re really gonna have to rebound at this point.”
Indeed, a botched handoff on the second series following the interception gave Christian Brothers the ball back after already going up 7-0. After their defense forced a punt, Twelve Bridges took advantage of its size and numbers on the hot night in Oak Park. The Raging Rhinos scored 42 unanswered points.
It was the first game for the Rhinos since last year’s state championship game in Mission Viejo, where they lost to Palos Verdes of Los Angeles County and ending a season that began 14-0 in just the third year of the program’s existence.
This season, Bean and his talented coaching staff hoping for an encore with a slew of new starters following last season’s roster that was loaded with seniors.
“We got a long way to go, believe it or not,” Bean said. “I know that’s a great statement (win) right there, but we have a long way to go.”
Lanky receiver Dylan Amos scored a pair of touchdowns, including a diving, highlight reel grab that gave the Rhinos a 35-point lead in the third quarter that led to a running clock in the fourth. Senior running back and linebacker Chase Wyhlidko, one of Twelve Bridges’ few players who plays both ways, added a pair of rushing touchdowns. Wideout Will Gant and running back Matthew Marquez also added scores.
The team figures to rely heavily on that group of skill players, along with their physical defense, if they’re going to make another run in the postseason. But as Bean said, that’s a long way off with 10 more games remaining on the regular seasons schedule.
Wyhlidko and standout lineman Colton Hogge are among the team’s prominent players on whom Bean will rely for leadership. Hogge is a 3-star recruit who committed to play at Nevada in 2026, and who Bean praised for his growth throughout his high school career.
“He’s come a long way. He had to do some growing up to do,” Bean said. “As talented as he was, he was missing the leadership component. And I think we’ve given him the right to go and get that, and we could not be more proud of that leadership component. And Chase is right there with him.”
Twelve Bridges will look for its second win of the season next week against the Reed Raiders from Sparks, Nevada, while Christian Brothers will hope to bounce back on the road against the San Joaquin Memorial Panthers of Fresno.
