Prince, RedHawks pick off league title
- Updated: October 27, 2018
Mountain Empire takes the field on Friday night.
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 28, VINCENT MEMORIAL 13
EastCountySports.com staff report
PINE VALLEY – The Mountain Empire RedHawks picked off passes then picked up the Manzanita League championship on Friday night behind six interceptions – three of them by senior star DALLAS PRINCE.
Prince, a true representative of Mountain Empire’s climb to the title, had a 50-yard pick-six and a 75-yard touchdown reception from quarterback senior GABRIEL HYDORN in the first half, as the RedHawks downed Vincent Memorial, 45-16.
Members of the Mountain Empire RedHawks following their championship-clinching victory on Friday night.
The RedHawks, which extended their winning streak to four games, also qualified for the San Diego CIF Division V playoffs as the No. 5 seed. Mountain Empire will host Army-Navy Academy in a first-round contest next Friday.
Holtville, which lost to the RedHawks, earned the No. 4 seed. MEHS (7-3, 3-0 Manzanita) still finished behind the Scots in the rankings, as well, but were moved up one spot likely based on Friday night’s win.
It was the Scots that got the pick-fest started with two interceptions in the early going, including one for a score.
Hydorn connected with senior MARQUIS DAVIS on a short pass to give the Redhawks a 7-6 lead.
Prince turned his first interception of the game into a 31-yard rushing touchdown for a 14-6 advantage.
Hydorn had a 1-yard score for a 28-13 lead at halftime.
Vincent Memorial (7-3, 1-2) took off nearly half of the third-quarter clock before getting a 27-yard field goal, but MEHS countered with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Davis to make it 35-16.
Prince’s third interception came in the third quarter.
NICK ROSE, CAMERON WILL, and MARCUS SMITH had picks in the fourth.
Mountain Empire begins its celebration near the end of the game.
Smith, a sophomore, returned his interception 77 yards and the RedHawks later got a 42-yard field goal from senior ESTEBAN CASTILLO.
Hydorn was 12-for-20 for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Smith also caught a touchdown pass.
Junior NATHAN ROSE came up with a pair of big receptions for the RedHawks.
Junior linebacker JERICHO BRENNAN turned in a career performance with 15 tackles and a sack.
Will, a senior, led the RedHawks with 14 tackles, while Prince added eight stops.
Castillo had seven tackles and made all five of his PATs.
Senior CHARLEE SALLEE had six tackles and a sack, as the MEHS defensive line was in the backfield non-stop.
