Welcome to the conference: Defending champ Hillcrest takes down newcomer Century 46-26

IDAHO FALLS – There’s one unbeaten team remaining in the 5A High Country Conference.

That would be defending conference champion Hillcrest after Friday’s 46-26 win over conference newcomer Century.

The offense set a season-high in scoring and the defense slowed a Diamondback offense that had put up 59 points the past two games.

But it wasn’t time to party just yet.

“I tell the guys all the time we don’t want to peak in September,” Knights coach Brennon Mossholder said. “We want to peak in November. I think we’re on the right track. Certainly there’s a lot of things to clean up.”

Four games into the season, the Hillcrest offense looks like it hasn’t missed a beat from a year ago, which thrived on a mix of power running and a passing game that could give defenses fits.

“Our motto has always been pick your poison,” Mossholder said of the offense balance.

That was the case Friday as junior quarterback Logan Taylor threw a pick on the first possession that was snagged by Century’s Mason Erickson.

Taylor recovered, tossing scoring passes on the next two drives.

The Diamondbacks also got on the scoreboard in the first quarter as standout Justus Mangum returned a kick for a touchdown, sprinting past the Knight defenders.

The game was tied at 14-14 before Hillcrest put up two touchdowns in the closing seconds of the first half as J’Vion King scored on a 2-yard run and Jake Stephens capped a drive with a 1-yard burst to put the Knights up 30-14.

It was Mangum again in the third quarter, diving in for a 3-yard touchdown that pulled the Diamondbacks within 30-20.

But they would get no closer as the Knights found success running ball. Taylor then capped an 80-yard drive with his third touchdown pass of the night, hitting Ethan Saunders for his second score of the night.

“We’re building that chemistry,” Taylor said of the team’s offense. “We are trusting each other more. I’m getting more comfortable with the line … receivers are trusting me. It’s all coming together pretty well.”

Hillcrest graduated 30 seniors off of last year’s team that made a run to the state championship game for a third straight season, including All-State quarterback Tyson Sweetwood.

Taylor said he was ready for the challenge.

“I’m pretty satisfied, but the job is not finished,” he said of the team’s 4-0 start. “We have to keep on working as a team.”

Elam Miner rushed for 100 yards and caught a TD pass. Ethan Saunders led the Knights with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Both teams play 6A nonconference games next week as Century (1-3, 0-3) hosts Highland, while Hillcrest (4-0, 3-0) hosts Thunder Ridge, which beat previously unbeaten Skyline 30-6 on Friday.