Prince’s night lifts Red Hawks; Knights complete turnaround

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 29, 2016

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE SOPHOMORE DALLAS PRINCE / file photo

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 29, LUTHERAN 12

EastCountySports.com staff report

SPRING VALLEY – DALLAS PRINCE scored three touchdowns, including one on an interception return, to lead the Mountain Empire Red Hawks to a 29-12 win over Lutheran in a Manzanita League game at Mount Miguel High Friday night.

More significantly, the win was of utmost importance to Mountain Empire’s playoff chances, as they are teetering near the cutline in the San Diego CIF Division 5 playoff power rankings.

Prince, a 5-foot-6 sophomore captain who barely tips the scales at 130 pounds, had touchdown receptions of 56 and 41 yards in the second quarter to help Mountain Empire to a 15-0 lead at halftime. During intermission, Lutheran celebrated Homecoming.

After Lutheran registered a touchdown in the third quarter, the Red Hawks struck back on a 64-yard touchdown run from senior MICHAEL STOGSDILL. Stodsgill would finish with 101 yards on 12 carries, along with three receptions for 72 yards.

In the fourth, Prince had his 36-yard interception return for a 29-6 lead. Lutheran added a score in the game’s final minute on a fourth-and-12 play.

Mountain Empire senior quarterback VICTOR PARRA completed 11 passes for 262 yards, but his three interceptions all came off deflections.

Defensively, the Red Hawks’ stalwarts stood out, especially in the first half.

CAMERON WILL certainly has to be one of the most inspirational stories in the county this season. The sophomore had 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for MEHS.

Tackling machin BLAKE JARRELL had 10 tackles, while Prince competed his player-of-the-week worthy night with eight tackles, five of them solo.

Sophomore center TONY ARCE entered the game on the game’s second series as an injury replacement, filing in very capably.

2016 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 42, THE ROCK 22

EastCountySports.com staff report

LA MESA – The Foothills Christian Knights completed their historic regular-season turnaround Friday night, crushing The Rock Academy, 42-22, in an Ocean League 8-man game played at Junior Seau Field.

The Knights were 0-10 just two seasons ago. And after a 5-4 campaign last year, Foothills improved to 9-1 with the win last night.

Foothills took a 2-0 lead on a safety midway through the first quarter.

Two minutes later, Rock Academy scored on a touchdown pass and conversion to make it, 8-2.

Moments later, JOSH GATE had a 70-yard rushing touchdown to tie the score, 8-8.

With about a minute to go before halftime, Rock Academy scored on a rush.

But the Knights answered right back with under a minute to go in the first half. NICK PUPA scored on a touchdown pass from dynamo ELI HALE. The duo also hooked up on the conversion for a 16-14 halftime lead.

With three minutes to go in the third quarter, Hale scored on a three-yard rush.

Foothills Christian exploded for 22 points in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Three minutes into the fourth, CALEB TARVER scored a rushing touchdown for a 28-14 lead.

Later in the fourth, Tarver added a 40-yard rushing touchdown. Gate rushed for a two-point conversion for the final margin.

Foothills Christian could share the league title if Calvin Christian would suffer a monumental upset next week against Calvary Christian.

Instead, FCHS will likely earn the second seed in the San Diego CIF 8-man playoffs behind their top-seeded rival Calvin.