In short: Mountain Empire Redhawks high school football (Pine Valley, CA), 2026 season: 5-3. Last game: W 41-14 vs Calipatria on October 9, 2026. Next: at Palo Verde Valley, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The turnover battle could decide Mountain Empire's next game, against Palo Verde Valley, and the recent returns favor Mountain Empire. Mountain Empire forced 1.0 takeaways per game over its first 4 games (2-2), #49 in Section in that timeframe. In the 4 games since that slow start (3-1), the Redhawks have forced 2.2 takeaways per game, a 125% rise, #11 in Section in that window. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Mountain Empire's last 4 opponents have averaged 1.9 per game, a #81 offense in Section on the season, against 1.1 per game, #54 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.9 per game), Mountain Empire forced 21% more turnovers than those offenses usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #85 in Section. Meanwhile, Palo Verde Valley's ball security has struggled in recent weeks. The Yellow Jackets have committed 2.0 giveaways per game over their last 4 games (4-0), #75 in Section during that time. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of defenses in Section (1.3 per game on the season, which would rank #49). Against those norms, Palo Verde Valley turned it over 52% more than those defenses usually force. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #71 in Section, a lower level of competition. On paper, that is a matchup that favors Mountain Empire.
The number to watch when Mountain Empire meets Palo Verde Valley is Mountain Empire's scoring defense. Mountain Empire allowed 26.0 points per game over its first 4 games (2-2), #55 in Section through those games. In the 4 games since that slow start (3-1), the Redhawks have allowed 17.5 points per game, a 33% drop, #28 in Section through that stretch. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Mountain Empire's last 4 opponents have averaged 15.2 points per game, a #78 offense in Section on the season, against 20.5 points per game, #63 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (15.2 points per game), Mountain Empire allowed 15% more than those offenses usually score. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #85 in Section. Only Vincent Memorial broke through in that span, putting up 50 on 10/2. Conversely, Palo Verde Valley's offense has been one of Section's better units in recent weeks. The Yellow Jackets have averaged 37.5 points per game over their last 4 games (4-0), #16 in Section over that stretch. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of scoring defenses in Section (21.8 points per game on the season, which would rank #41). Against those norms, Palo Verde Valley scored 72% more than those defenses usually allow. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #71 in Section, a lower level of competition. Something has to give when Mountain Empire's surging defense meets one of Section's better units in Palo Verde Valley's. Mountain Empire is 5-0 this season when it holds opponents under 35, and 0-3 when it doesn't.
NOTES
The biggest shift in Mountain Empire's season has come in its run defense. Mountain Empire allowed 7.2 yards per carry (782 yards on 109 rushes) over its first 4 games (2-2), #74 in Section within that period. In the 4 games since that slow start (3-1), the Redhawks have allowed 5.1 yards per carry (488 yards on 96 rushes), a 29% drop, #33 in Section across those games. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 5.0 yards per carry on the season. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #85 in Section. On the season, Mountain Empire ranks #63 in Section in run defense. That form gets a real test against Palo Verde Valley, whose ground game ranks #6 in Section (8.5 yards per carry).
The Redhawks allowed 7.6 yards per play (1,358 yards on 179 snaps) over their first 4 games (2-2), #68 in Section during those games. Few teams started slower in this department, and few have turned it around as sharply since. In the 4 games since that slow start (3-1), Mountain Empire has allowed 5.9 yards per play (1,015 yards on 171 snaps), a 22% drop, #33 in Section during that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 5.8 yards per play on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (5.6 yards per play), Mountain Empire allowed 6% more per snap than those offenses usually gain. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #85 in Section. On the season, the Redhawks rank #52 in Section in yards per play allowed. That form gets a real test against Palo Verde Valley, whose offense ranks #8 in Section (8.8 yards per play).
Mountain Empire's ground game has come a long way since the season's early weeks. Mountain Empire averaged 8.0 yards per carry (710 yards on 89 rushes) over its first 3 games (2-1), #10 in Section during that stretch. In the 5 games since that slow start (3-2), the Redhawks have averaged 9.4 yards per carry (1,358 yards on 144 rushes), an 18% rise, #6 in Section over that period. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Mountain Empire's last 5 opponents have averaged 8.0 yards per carry, a #82 run defense in Section on the season, against 5.9 yards per carry, #53 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.0 yards per carry), Mountain Empire ran for 18% more per carry than those run defenses usually allow. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #84 in Section. On the season, Mountain Empire ranks #3 in Section in rushing. Palo Verde Valley's run defense sits in the middle of the pack, #47 in Section (5.7 yards per carry).
Something changed for Mountain Empire's pass defense after its first 4 games. The Redhawks allowed 8.2 yards per pass attempt (576 yards on 70 attempts) over their first 4 games (2-2), #57 in Section over that timeframe. In the 4 games since that slow start (3-1), Mountain Empire has allowed 7.0 yards per pass attempt (527 yards on 75 attempts), a 15% drop, #40 in Section over that span. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Mountain Empire's last 4 opponents have averaged 6.5 yards per attempt, a #66 passing attack in Section on the season, against 7.1 yards per attempt, #56 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.5 yards per attempt), Mountain Empire allowed 9% more per attempt than those passing attacks usually gain. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #85 in Section. On the season, the Redhawks rank #41 in Section in pass defense. That form gets a real test against Palo Verde Valley, whose passing game ranks #2 in Section (12.0 yards per attempt).
TIDBITS (13 found)
• Club The last time Mountain Empire went a game being held under 100 rushing yards was October 17, 2025 against Maranatha Christian (L, 0-41). Since then Mountain Empire has gone 12 straight games rushing for 100+ yards, a school-record 12 straight in the 11 seasons on record.
• Club Mountain Empire is 14-2 all time when averaging 7.0+ yards per play. Mountain Empire's last loss when averaging 7.0+ yards per play was September 11, 2026 against Crawford (L, 41-42).
• Club Mountain Empire is 13-2 all time when averaging 8.0+ yards per attempt. Mountain Empire's last loss when averaging 8.0+ yards per attempt was September 12, 2025 against San Ysidro (L, 19-27).
• Club Mountain Empire is 12-1 all time when holding the opponent under 10 points. Mountain Empire's last loss when holding the opponent under 10 points was October 14, 2022 against La Jolla Country Day (L, 0-2).
• Club Mountain Empire has gone 7 straight games being held under 200 passing yards (August 27, 2026 through October 9, 2026), going 4-3 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (14 games).
• Club Mountain Empire has scored 111 points over its last 3 games (37.0 a game, September 25, 2026 through October 9, 2026) -- its 4th-highest 3-game total on record; the most is 141, from September 4, 2026 through September 18, 2026.
• Club Mountain Empire has gone 5 straight games forcing 1+ turnover (September 11, 2026 through October 9, 2026), going 3-2 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2017 (7 games).
• Player Elisha Robinson has gone 8 straight games running for a touchdown, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Elisha Robinson has gone 6 straight games rushing for 100+ yards, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Chance Ross has gone 4 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, the 2nd-longest such streak of his career. He also had a career-best streak of 6 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, during the 2026 season.
• Player Amar Mahasin has gone 3 straight games catching a touchdown pass, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Angel Avila has 34 tackles over his last 4 games (8.5 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 9, 2026) -- his most in a 4-game stretch since the 39 he had from August 21, 2026 through September 11, 2026.
• Player Jacob Arnold has never had a game making 10 or more tackles for Mountain Empire, over a 20-game career on record. His career high is 8, set September 26, 2025 against Victory Christian Academy (W, 36-35).
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Mountain Empire has played one of the softest schedules in the pool so far (#87 of 91), and what is left is a middle-of-the-road slate (#39 of 82): the hard part is still ahead.
Schedule so far · 1 = hardest
#87 of 91
avg opponent rating -17.1 over 8 games · 0 vs top-25 CIF San Diego Section
Schedule ahead · 1 = hardest
#39 of 82
avg opponent rating 4.0 over 1 games · 0 vs top-25
Hamilton W 39-0Linfield… L 21-46O'farrel… W 50-16Crawford L 41-42San Ysid… W 50-6@Victory … W 42-0Vincent … L 28-50@Calipatr… W 41-14@Palo Ver…
Each bar is one opponent, placed by where its rating ranks in this pool (tall and red = top 10; short and green = bottom half). Hatched bars are games still to play; the dashed line is today.
MILESTONE WATCH
Mountain Empire
Angel Avila needs 2 tackles for 75 (averaging 9.1 a game)
Chance Ross needs 42 passing yards for 1,000 (averaging 119.8 a game)
Amar Mahasin needs 1 receiving touchdown for 10 (averaging 1.1 a game)
Elisha Robinson needs 3 rushing touchdowns for 25 (averaging 2.8 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 9 game; last updated Oct 20; roster and numbers checked Sep 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file. SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 30.7/100 (-54 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 68.9/100 (+34 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 24.7/100 (+34 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 26.1/100 (+47 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
ME finished 2025 at 9-3. Made the playoffs (2 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 36-35 over VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY finished 45% that season). Toughest loss: 19-27 to SAN YSIDRO (8-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
ME HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• ME holds its opponents under 7.0 yards per play (.929), and has won 12 straight when doing so
• ME averages 6.0+ yards per play (.867), and has won 3 straight when doing so
• ME averages 5.0+ yards per carry (.714), and has won 3 straight when doing so
• MOUNTAIN EMPIRE has had a 100-yard rusher in 6 straight games (9/4/26–10/9/26). It has not reached 7 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• MOUNTAIN EMPIRE has committed 2+ turnovers in 2 straight games (10/2/26–10/9/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• MOUNTAIN EMPIRE has forced 2+ turnovers in 2 straight games (10/2/26–10/9/26). It has not forced 2+ turnovers in 3 straight since 9/29/23–10/13/23 (2023).
ME's defense has averaged 2.3 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 30-game average is 1.2 takeaways per game. (+94%)
ME's defense has averaged 6.6 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 9.4 YPA. (-30%)
ME's defense has averaged 5.9 YPP over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 7.5 YPP. (-21%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where MOUNTAIN EMPIRE sits among 89 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 51.5, Defense Grade 31.9.
RUSH YARDS / GAME: MOUNTAIN EMPIRE VS THE SECTION
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE ranks #5 of 82 section teams in rushing yards per game (279.8) -- a strength worth a look.
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -18.5 in 2022 to -16.3 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
