East County Sports

RedHawks win, first 3-0 start since ’11

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 37, NUVIEW BRIDGE (Nuevo) 0

EastCountySports.com

PINE VALLEY — The Mountain Empire RedHawks are off to their best start in over a decade after blanking Nuview Bridge, 37-0, on Friday night to improve to 3-0.

Elisha Lashone Robinson powered the offense once again, scoring three rushing touchdowns, including runs of 38 and 58 yards.

Quarterback Chance Ross connected with Michael Noble for a 40-yard touchdown pass late in the first half, giving the RedHawks a 25-0 lead at the break.

Amar Mahasin and Jason Landman added rushing touchdowns in the second half as Mountain Empire continued to roll. On defense, Noble stood out with two interceptions, while Jacob Arnold had a fumble recovery. The RedHawks allowed no points for the first time this season.

“Our game plan was to pound the rock and we did that with Robinson,” head coach Cameron Keller said. “Mahshin and Landman also did a good job, both scoring touchdowns. On defense, Max Anderson, David Oney, and Junior Ponce did a great job stopping the run.”

The win capped off a perfect three-week start for Mountain Empire, which has not opened 3-0 since 2011 when the RedHawks finished 9-2.

Program Turnaround
The 3-0 start is a dramatic turnaround for Mountain Empire, which had just one win last season after posting two in 2023 and three in 2022. Keller, in his first season at the helm, has already matched the program’s total wins from the last two years combined.

Nuview Bridge, meanwhile, fell to 0-3.

Week 1: Mountain Empire 28, Hamilton 25
The RedHawks opened the season on the road with a narrow victory over Hamilton, of Anza.

Mountain Empire built a 21-6 halftime lead behind Robinson’s 100-plus rushing yards and a touchdown, as well as a scoring reception by Ponce.

Hamilton stormed back in the second half, capitalizing on a scoop-and-score off a bad snap and an onside kick recovery.

After pulling within two points on a late Hail Mary touchdown, Hamilton attempted another onside kick, but the RedHawks came up with the defensive stop to secure the win.

AJ McGervey added an interception to highlight the defensive effort.

Week 2: Mountain Empire 28, Calipatria 22 (OT)
The home opener proved just as thrilling. Calipatria led 14-7 at halftime after hitting on a trick-play double pass, but Robinson’s 60-yard touchdown run kept the RedHawks within reach.

After trailing 22-14 in the fourth quarter, Mountain Empire rallied to tie the game and send it to overtime. The RedHawks’ defense made a stop to begin the extra period, and the offense finished the job with the winning score.

Robinson again ran for more than 100 yards and a touchdown, while the defense had strong showings from Landman (six tackles, seven assists, one forced recovery, two tackles for loss), Anderson (four tackles for loss), and Oney (one sack, three tackles for loss).

 

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