#11 Mountain Ridge snapped a playoff win drought the hard way on Friday night in the first round of the 2021 6A football postseason.

Trailing host and #6 Mesa Mountain View 35-14 late in the first half, the Mountain Lions went on to post a 26-0 run to the finish and edge the Toros, 40-35, at Jesse Parker Stadium.

Mountain Ridge has qualified often for the playoffs over the last 17 years, but its last postseason triumph before Friday came in its runner-up finish to Hamilton in 2004.  Mountain Ridge (8-3) advances to another road game next week in the quarterfinals facing #3 Williams Field. Mountain View finished 8-3 in coach Joe Germaine's first season as head mentor.

The game featured a passing battle between junior quarterback Brendan Anderson of Mountain Ridge and sophomore quarterback Jack Germaine of Mountain View. Anderson was steady throughout, but excelled in guiding the second-half rally. Unofficially Anderson completed 32 of 49 passes for 371 yards, five touchdowns and one pick. Three of the TD passes were to junior Terrance Hall, who tallied four times. Hall's 8-yard run with 10:43 left to play capped the Mountain Lions comeback from three TDs back. Hall scored on receptions of 35, 4 and 9 yards. 

Jack Germaine connected on 17 of 19 passes for 288 yards and four TDs in the first half. He also scored on a 1-yard run. The second half was tough on the Toros' offense as it penetrated Mountain Ridge territory just once - its final possession with 3:36 left. Germaine was 11 for 17 and 97 yards in the second half finishing 28 of 36 for 385 yards and no interceptions. 

Mtn. View tight end Jackson Bowers hauls in a pass in the first quarter setting up Toros 1st TD. (Azpreps365 photo)

Receivers on both sides enjoyed productive nights with the quarterbacks combining for 756 yards. Mountain View's Matthew Clark caught eight passes for 153 yards and three TDs. Teammate Jackson Bowers hauled in 7 for 73 yards.

For Mountain Ridge Hall had seven catches for 127 yards. Ryland Sands added 78 yards on five receptions, Dane Berseth 4 for 74 yards and Conrad Curley 4 for 50 yards.