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RedHawks advance in thriller over VCA
- Updated: November 10, 2025
2025 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – QUARTERFINALS
Division 5-AA
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 44, VICTORY CHRISTIAN 37
EastCountySports.com
PINE VALLEY — In a game that featured multiple lead changes, last-minute heroics, and a dramatic finish, Mountain Empire High School continued its remarkable turnaround season with a 43-37 victory over Victory Christian Academy on Saturday.
The win advances the RedHawks (9-2) to the Division 5-AA semifinals against No. 2-seeded Palo Verde Valley.
Mountain Empire, which entered the playoffs with an 8-2 record, including a dramatic regular-season win over VCA, found itself in yet another wild contest with the Knights.
After racing to a 22-8 lead midway through the first half, the RedHawks saw momentum swing late in the period. A fumble set up a VCA score, cutting Mountain Empire’s advantage to 22-16 at halftime.
“We played well up until about two minutes left in the first half,” Mountain Empire head coach Cameron Keller said.
The second half opened with Mountain Empire driving again, only to turn the ball over on another fumble. Victory Christian capitalized, taking a 23-22 lead.
But the RedHawks responded with a touchdown drive to reclaim the edge.
VCA returned the ensuing kickoff for a score, pulling ahead 29-28, and the back-and-forth pattern continued.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Mountain Empire pushed in for another touchdown to lead 36-29, but VCA converted a critical 4th-and-9 and successfully went for two to take a 37-36 lead with 1:50 left on the clock.
With two timeouts remaining, Mountain Empire quarterback Chance Ross orchestrated a final, game-winning drive.
On a 50-yard play with just 40 seconds left, Ross connected with Amar Mahasin for the decisive touchdown, giving the RedHawks the lead for good.
The game ended when Mountain Empire’s defense sacked the VCA quarterback on a failed Hail Mary attempt.
Mountain Empire’s offensive attack was balanced and relentless.
Running back Elisha Lashone Robinson carried the ball for 180 yards and three touchdowns, while Ross finished with 150 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Mahasin added 100 yards and a touchdown receiving, with junior Ponce and Mike Noble also finding the end zone through the air.
The victory continues a stunning turnaround for Mountain Empire, which had won only one game last season and three combined over the previous two years.
Head coach Cameron Kelly, in his first season at the helm, has guided the RedHawks to a division semifinal game after finishing second in the Sunset League.
Mountain Empire’s win over Victory Christian was reminiscent of their regular-season thriller against the Knights, which they narrowly edged the Knights, 36-35.
This time, however, the RedHawks managed to pull out the win in the final minute, demonstrating resilience and poise in high-pressure moments.
With momentum firmly on their side, Mountain Empire now prepares to face No. 2 Palo Verde Valley in the semifinals, keeping alive hopes of a Division 5-AA finals berth and a potential rematch with Maranatha Christian, the team that handed them a 41-0 defeat earlier this season.
