RedHawks can’t dent Colts; Norse lose

By Ramon Scott
Updated: April 2, 2021

EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

CRAWFORD 14, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 0

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO – Crawford head coach Matt Marquez had great things to say about Mountain Empire stars Larry Clark and Marcus Smith.

Marquez tweeted his respect for the WarHawk players on Saturday morning following the Colts’ 14-0 win over MEHS on Friday night.

#1 and #9 from Mountain Empire balled out tonight, played every snap, never asked to come out of the game and played hard until the very last whistle. They always play us tough, good luck rest of the year @coachprince34

— Matt Marquez (@coachmattmarqz) April 3, 2021

Clark, Smith, and the rest of the hard-trying RedHawks left it all out on the Colts’ turf again on Friday night but couldn’t overcome another tough opponent.

Clark, a junior, rushed 24 times for 121 yards against the Colts. He also had nine tackles, including four of them for a loss, and also forced and recovered a fumble.

“I just read their quarterback and didn’t let him to out on my side,” Clark said. “I had a nice game but I know I can do way better.”

Smith had a 20-yard run from scrimmage in the second quarter and a 31-yard run in the fourth quarter to pick up a first down on a 3rd-and-15.

Junior Rodrigo Gonzalez had a bright game, completing 3-of-4 passes while defending three passes on defense for the RedHawks.

Sophomore Hunter Morgan had eight tackles for MEHS.

Marcus Smith had 62 all-purpose yards to go along with six tackles on defense. He caught a 14-yard reception in the second quarter and a 12-yard reception in the fourth quarter to take Mountain Empire down to the Crawford 22.

“Greg (Reyes) and Nate Thompson gave us great pass coverage,” Smith said. “The beast was Larry Clark plowing his way for yards after yards.”

Smith reached the end zone with a reception in the fourth quarter but the play was nullified by a penalty.

“Marcus was double-covered most of the night,” Mountain Empire assistant coach Ricky Prince said. “We played Crawford very tough.”

Mountain Empire lineman Chaz Ennis left the game in the second quarter with a shin injury.

The game was scoreless at halftime.

Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRdD8kTCajM

SERRA 46, VALHALLA 7 – The Norsemen were no match for the host team in Tierrasanta.

Valhalla scored its touchdowns in the third quarter.

Valhalla quarterback Tommy Logan passed for 102 yards and a touchdown – a 57-yard completion to A.J. Cornthwaite.

Senior Damon Slater caught two passes for 42 yards for Valhalla.

Senior Gavin Nagel led Valhalla with 13 tackles, while senior teammate Eddie Villavicencio had 11 stops.

Valhalla fell to 0-4.