On paper it may look like an upset, but on the field it was playoff business as usual for

On paper it may look like an upset, but on the field it was playoff business as usual for Red Mountain. 

The #12 seed Mountain Lions traveled to face #5 seed and rival Mountain View Thursday night for a 6A first round matchup, and left with a 20-14 victory that may have changed the outlook of their season. 

Red Mountain (5-6) snapped a five game losing skid, got revenge for the previous week’s loss to Mountain View (8-3), but more importantly advanced to the 6A quarterfinals where they will travel to Pinnacle. 

“This is a big one for our kids coaches,” Red Mountain coach Kyle Enders said. 

“Our kids kept believing in our coaches. We played and lost some really close game to good teams, but we’re battle tested and it’s paid off for us in recent years.”

Red Mountain quarterback Simon Lopez scored two rushing touchdowns and kicker Kai Evans added a pair of field goals for the Mountain Lions, who have advanced to the 6A semifinal the last two seasons, and fell in overtime to Liberty in the 2019 state title game. 

Thursday’s night keys for the Lions were five Toro turnovers, and consistent pressure on Mountain View quarterback Jack Germaine. 

“He’s a heck of a quarterback and he’s highly intelligent,” Enders said of Germaine. 

Germaine’s 46 yard touchdown pass to Mikey Sumko in the second quarter cut Red Mountain’s lead to 17-14 at the half.  
 

Both defenses tightened up in the red zone in the second half, but it was the constant pressure on Germaine and hard running by Red Mountain's Isaiah Savoie (164 yards) that ultimately made the difference. 

“This is a tough one,” Mountain View coach Joe Germaine said. "It’s not easy beating a good team two weeks in a row, but (Red Mountain) deserves credit."