The final week of the 2012 high school football regular season will pit two strong Division I teams from Mesa against one another, as Highland (6-3) plays host to Red Mountain (7-2). The Hawks, currently ranked 14th in this week's MaxPreps poll, would likely secure a playoff berth with a victory. Should sixth-ranked Red Mountain emerge victorious, the Mountain Lions would probably earn the right to host a first-round postseason contest.

Red Mountain is averaging over 34 points a game and has won two straight after dropping back-to-back games against Desert Ridge and Mountain View. Senior quarterback Mason Thorman is averaging almost 240 yards passing per contest and has thrown for 20 touchdowns in 2012. He has two senior wideouts in Drake Pierre and Aeron Carr who have each caught at least 50 passes on the year and account for 18 of Thorman's scoring strikes.

Highland, who fell to Basha as well as Desert Ridge and Mountain View this year, is coming off of a come-from-behind 24-21 victory over Mesa. Junior quarterback Blake Young has tossed 13 TD passes and run for three more scores this season. Colin Gardner, a junior tight end, is averaging one touchdown for every two receptions. But the Hawks' ground game has been stifled by injuries this season to senior running backs James Brletic and Ray Berry as well as junior RB Ryan McCord.

Game time is set for 7pm Friday at Highland High School.