Holtville falls late to Mountain Empire

PINE VALLEY — The Holtville High Vikings stumbled to open their Manzanita League slate, losing to the Mountain Empire Red Hawks 20-14 on Friday night.

The Vikings held a 7-0 lead after the first quarter — thanks to a rushing score with three minutes to go in the frame — but were unable sustain their momentum.

They failed to score on their next five possessions. The turnover bug bit them bad: They fumbled one away, got intercepted and had a kick blocked — the last of which the Red Hawks returned for six points.

The Vikings managed to stay close by clamping down on the defensive side of things, but the missed opportunities would wind up costing them late.

Five minutes into the fourth quarter the Vikings scored again to draw even at 14 apiece and followed that up by intercepting Red Hawk quarterback Gabriel Hydorn, but they turned the ball over on downs, giving it back to Mountain Empire with 2 minutes to go.

The Red Hawks didn’t waste their chance, converting on a touchdown pass with under a minute to go to escape with a win.

The loss gives Holtville a record of 6-2 on the year.

Mountain Empire improves to 5-3 (1-0 Manzanita League).

The Vikings next game will be on Thursday, at 7 p.m., when they adjourn to Central Union’s Cal Jones Field to play the Manzanita-League-leading Vincent Memorial Scots.