Emily Schmierer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Red Mountain for AZPreps365.com

MESA, Ariz. -- An emotional Senior Night game ended in tears as the Red Mountain flag football team scored a game-winning touchdown from quarterback Korey Roberts to receiver Cadence McCanless for the lead with 30.3 seconds remaining to defeat Mountain View, 10-7.

As the final buzzer sounded Tuesday, the Mountain Lions celebrated and gathered in tearful hugs of joy.

“We can do hard things,” coach Julian Madison told the team in the postgame huddle.

After the hard-fought win, the Mountain Lions remained undefeated at 11-0 entering their last regular season game against the Mesa High Jackrabbits on Thursday.

If Red Mountain wins, they will be named section champions. Red Mountain will play in the first round of the AIA Section 6A Flag Football Championship that begins on Oct. 24 against the No. 16 seed at home.

The matchup against the top two ranked teams in the 6A Fiesta section did not disappoint Tuesday. The night began with a sentimental Senior Night presentation honoring Red Mountain’s three seniors: Isabella Misquez, Kassidy Lopez and Bianca Corona.

“From this sport, I’m gonna take with me persevering and really valuing the people around me,” Corona said.

Red Mountain started off Tuesday against Mountain View with an interception by Didrika Valentin that eventually led to a field goal. Red Mountain held the lead at 3-0, but not for long.

An interception thrown by the Mountain Lions gave the ball to Mountain View in the red zone at the opponent 20-yard line, leading to a Mountain View touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

It was at this point that the game went cold. Each team was scoreless for the rest of the half.

With a missed field goal going into halftime, Red Mountain players were upset with themselves and their performance. The emotions hit Misquez at several points in the game.

“It’s not just my last year, but I really love playing the game, I love playing with my teammates,” Misquez said. “I love this game so much I just want us to do good.”

After halftime, the defenses held strong.

Red Mountain’s Trisha Stine recorded three sacks and added a batted pass. Stine added over 30 receiving yards on offense.

“I think I kind of switch into a different mindset for defense and offense,” Stine said. “They’re similar mindsets but different formality.”

The momentum shifted for Red Mountain in the fourth quarter when Brooklyn Anaya injured herself, forcing each team back to their sideline.

Red Mountain players huddled together and communicated on how they could perform at their highest level to finish the game.

Once play resumed, Red Mountain began to move the ball, including two back-to-back 10-yard runs from Misquez.

The pace got frantic as the last minute approached in the game.

Red Mountain regained possession after a failed fourth-down attempt from Mountain View.

The Mountain Lions moved the ball, and on third-and-goal, Roberts hit McCanless for the go-ahead touchdown with only 30.3 seconds left.