Flag Football is officially a sanctioned sport of the AIA, and the inaugural week got off to an exciting start Tuesday afternoon at Mountain View High School in Mesa. 
Mountain Pointe was the visiting team and both squads overcame the stifling heat to put on a good show. 
The Toros pulled out a 12-7 win over the Pride in the final minute of the 6A contest.

"I think once we were finally able to start playing it helped us calm down and focus on the game," said Mountain View sophomore Sadie Christensen, referring to the temperature and pregame festivities. 

The Arizona Cardinals celebrated their sponsorship with appearances by cheerleaders, team brass and quarterback Kyler Murray. 
The star quarterback arrived in time to greet players and captains for the opening coin toss. Murray’s appearance attracted a significant crowd, and the fourth year QB signed autographs and mingled with fans and administrators for much of the first quarter. 

Those who stuck around were treated to a tightly contested game that made for great theater down the stretch. 
The Toros took a 6-0 lead early when senior Tessa Christensen intercepted a Mountain Pointe pass and returned it 65 yards for what was likely the first touchdown in Arizona flag football history. 
The score remained 6-0 for much of the game, as both offenses struggled to convert inside the red zone. 
Mountain Pointe freshman quarterback Amaya Moreno was plagued by dropped passes all game, including several in the end zone, and two on the game’s last drive. 
Mountain View was able to intercept three Moreno passes in all. 
“We just kept fighting and fighting,” Mountain View coach Jesus Arzaga said afterward. 
“I’m proud of how these girls kept pushing even after giving up some yards and drives.”

With under five minutes to play, Mountain Pointe turned the game on two spectacular receptions by Moriah Green. 
The first was a 19-yard touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone looking into them setting sun. That tied the score at 6-6, but Green wasn’t finished. With her uncle and former Cardinals wide receiver Roy Green in attendance, Moriah Green made a diving catch on a tipped ball, just getting her arms underneath, scooping up the all important extra point and a 7-6 lead. 

The Toros weren’t finished. 
After reaching the 20-yard line of Mountain Pointe with just a minute remaining, Toro quarterback Tierah Metcalf found Kaylei Yazzie, who caught the ball, but not before her flag was pulled from a diving Mountain Pointe defender. But Yazzie turned upfield and sprinted into the end zone after Mountain Pointe defenders assumed the play was dead. 
A flag was on the field near the point of the reception. 
Moments later, the referee explained the ruling—a personal foul for pulling the flag before the catch—which also gave the Toros a touchdown and a 12-7 lead with 42 seconds to play. 
“Our coach taught us the rules and we know them," Yazzie explained afterward. 
“I knew she pulled my flag early and I knew it was a penalty.”
Mountain Pointe still had time, and Moreno found receivers open downfield, but two drops kept the Pride back in Mountain View territory. 
A final heave was intercepted by Yazzie to seal the game.