By BRIAN HAAS | [email protected] | Press-Enterprise
PUBLISHED: October 19, 2018 at 10:48 pm | UPDATED: October 19, 2018 at 10:48 pm
HEMET – Hemet utilized a strong defensive effort on Friday night, creating four turnovers en route to defeating Tahquitz 26-12 in a Mountain Pass League contest.
“Our defense saved us tonight all the way around,” Hemet head coach Jason Thornburg said. “We just couldn’t seem to establish field position on offense.”
Two of those turnovers came in the first quarter and set the tone for the Bulldogs, starting with a 30-yard interception return from senior Tyler Richardson on the game’s opening possession.
On the ensuing drive, Hemet once again created a turnover that led to points, this time when a fumble recovery from Elijah Bratcher set up a18-yard field goal from Daniel Reyes.
Hemet found the end zone twice more in the half with rushing touchdowns from Thornburg and Richardson to take a 26-6 lead into the break.
“Our defensive play in the first half gave us so much momentum but we just weren’t able to capitalize on it and put the game away,” Thornburg said.
Hemet sealed the game in the fourth quarter with an interception in the end zone by Mohammad Khan, and then strung together a six-minute drive to finish the contest.
Tahquitz’s two scores of the game came from touchdown receptions from Antoine Sullivan and Doug Osiomalo.