Manrique’s four touchdowns lift Hector past Mountain Pine in comeback win

Published On: September 28, 2026Categories: High School, News

Hector 52, Mountain Pine 40

MOUNTAIN PINE — Cayden Manrique rushed for four touchdowns, and Gavin Lusk added three as Hector erased a 14-point halftime deficit with 32 unanswered points to defeat Mountain Pine 52–40. All eight Wildcats touchdowns came on the ground in a game that swung sharply twice before Hector secured possession for good.

Hector built a 20–0 lead, but Mountain Pine answered with five touchdowns in the final 4:24 of the second quarter. Four consecutive onside-kick recoveries kept the Red Devils’ offense on the field during that surge, turning what had been a three-score deficit into a 34–20 halftime advantage.

Braxton Noles recovered a fumble on Mountain Pine’s first offensive snap to set up Manrique’s opening touchdown. Dawson Hall followed with a 37-yard scoring run, and Lusk kicked both extra points for a 14–0 first-quarter lead. Noles’ second fumble recovery gave Hector possession at the Mountain Pine 23, setting up Lusk’s short touchdown run with 4:43 remaining before halftime.

Mountain Pine’s comeback started with Michael Rice’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Ventress, who broke tackles after catching a short throw. Rice then connected with Mason Matlock for consecutive touchdowns. The second came on fourth-and-seven, and a successful two-point pass put Mountain Pine ahead 22–20. Another Rice-to-Ventress touchdown and Rice’s scoring keeper with 48 seconds left completed the rally. Blaine Hood intercepted a pass just before halftime.

Hector began its answer when Justin Duvall stripped the ball from Matlock after a third-quarter reception. Manrique finished the ensuing possession with his second touchdown, cutting the deficit to 34–26. The Wildcats then recovered Forrest Chronister’s onside kick, giving their offense another possession before Mountain Pine could respond.

Lusk scored from 5 yards with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. Manrique passed to Remington Patterson for the tying two-point conversion, bringing Hector even at 34–34. Hall subsequently helped force a fourth-down incompletion on a pass intended for Ventress, giving the Wildcats possession for their go-ahead drive.

Manrique broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown with 11:05 left, putting Hector ahead 40–34. Blake Harwell, Easton Pruitt and Noles then pressured Rice into a fourth-down sack, returning possession to the Wildcats at Mountain Pine’s 47. After a 3-yard Lusk carry, Manrique scored again, this time from 44 yards, to stretch the lead to 46–34.

Gunner Gray supplied the next takeaway, intercepting Isaac Canada and returning the ball to the Mountain Pine 3. Lusk scored on the following play with 6:28 remaining, completing Hector’s run of five consecutive touchdowns after halftime and giving the Wildcats an 18-point cushion.

Matlock scored his third touchdown on a jet sweep with 4:09 left, trimming the margin to 52–40. Rice finished with four touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown; Matlock and Ventress each caught two scoring passes. Mountain Pine tried another onside kick, but Manrique recovered it. Lusk converted a third-and-two on the final possession, allowing Hector to run out the clock.

Scoring summary

First quarter

Hector: Cayden Manrique, touchdown run (Gavin Lusk kick). Hector 7–0.
Hector: Dawson Hall, 37-yard run (Lusk kick). Hector 14–0.

Second quarter

Hector: Lusk, short touchdown run (kick blocked). Hector 20–0.
Mountain Pine: Gavin Ventress, 66-yard pass from Michael Rice (run failed). Hector 20–6.
Mountain Pine: Mason Matlock, touchdown pass from Rice (Rice run). Hector 20–14.
Mountain Pine: Matlock, touchdown pass from Rice (pass good). Mountain Pine 22–20.
Mountain Pine: Ventress, touchdown pass from Rice (pass failed). Mountain Pine 28–20.
Mountain Pine: Rice, touchdown run (pass failed). Mountain Pine 34–20.

Third quarter

Hector: Manrique, touchdown run (kick blocked). Mountain Pine 34–26.
Hector: Lusk, 5-yard run (Remington Patterson pass from Manrique). Tied 34–34.

Fourth quarter

Hector: Manrique, 47-yard run (pass failed). Hector 40–34.
Hector: Manrique, 44-yard run (run failed). Hector 46–34.
Hector: Lusk, 3-yard run (run failed). Hector 52–34.
Mountain Pine: Matlock, touchdown run (pass failed). Hector 52–40.

Players who stood out

Cayden Manrique, Hector: Four rushing touchdowns, including fourth-quarter scores of 47 and 44 yards; threw the tying two-point conversion and recovered Mountain Pine’s final onside kick.
Gavin Lusk, Hector: Three rushing touchdowns, two extra-point kicks and a third-down conversion on Hector’s final possession.
Dawson Hall, Hector: Scored on a 37-yard run and defended a fourth-down pass intended for Ventress before Hector’s go-ahead drive.
Braxton Noles, Hector: Two first-half fumble recoveries, each setting up a touchdown; joined the fourth-quarter pressure on Rice that forced a turnover on downs.
Justin Duvall, Hector: Stripped Matlock after a reception and secured possession to set up Hector’s first second-half touchdown.
Gunner Gray, Hector: Returned an interception to the Mountain Pine 3, setting up Lusk’s third touchdown.
Blake Harwell and Easton Pruitt, Hector: Helped sack Rice on fourth down before Manrique’s final touchdown run.
Remington Patterson, Hector: Caught the two-point conversion that tied the game at 34–34.
Michael Rice, Mountain Pine: Four touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and a successful two-point run.
Mason Matlock, Mountain Pine: Two touchdown receptions, including one on fourth-and-seven, and a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown.
Gavin Ventress, Mountain Pine: Two touchdown receptions, including the 66-yard catch-and-run that started Mountain Pine’s second-quarter rally.
Blaine Hood, Mountain Pine: Intercepted a pass just before halftime with the Red Devils leading 34–20.