No. 1 Mountain View edges No. 3 Red Mountain in thrilling Honor Bowl comeback
September 20, 2024 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
Mountain View's flag football team has a flair for drama and a calm in the clutch.
On Friday night at Red Mountain, the defending 6A champs came back from a 14-0 deficit to beat their Brown Rd rival Mountain Lions, 15-14 in the first ever 'Honor Bowl' game played outside of California.
Kaylei Yazzie connected on three field goals for Mountain View, the last one from 34 yards. The ball cleared the crossbar by inches with just 11 seconds to play, ultimately giving the Toros another close win over a top team.
"These girls are just relentless," Mountain View coach Jesus Argaza said.
"They're never giving in and never giving up. These girls just keep fighting."
During last years' 6A playoff run, Mountain View (2-0) came back in three of its four playoff games. The Toros held off a powerful Eastmark team 14-9 earlier in the week.
Mountain View takes its 1st lead of the game on this Kaylei Yazzie FG with 11 seconds left. The top-ranked Toros complete the comeback to beat No. 3 Red Mtn 15-14 @MVToroFlag pic.twitter.com/P7iop4Jql7
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 21, 2024
Yazzie had missed on a 24-yard attempt just minutes earlier when she kicked it low into Red Mountain defenders. It would've given the Toros a 15-14 lead.
Needless to say she was grateful for another shot.
"I just prayed and kinda blocked out the noise," Yazzie said of her winning kick.
Mountain View's comeback victory spoiled a fantastic performance by Red Mountain quarterback Sierra Mellish. The senior spent the last year on her own comeback journey after a serious knee injury early last season. Mellish has already thrown for over 500 total yards in three games this year.
Mellish's 11-yard touchdown pass to Haleigh Jones in the second quarter gave the Mountain Lions a 14-0 lead.
Red Mountain QB Sierra Mellish is making plays for the Mtn Lions. Here she finishes off another TD drive with this pass to freshman Haleigh Jones. Red Mtn leads Mt. View 14-0 midway through the 2nd. @RMAthletics pic.twitter.com/fDklZXP5Sd
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 21, 2024
"I'm just glad to be back out here with my girls again," Mellish said afterward.
"The second half didn't go quite as good as the first, but that's why we play. I'm just trying to learn and grow."
Trisha Stine-Groves got the scoring started in the first quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run.
The Toros lone touchdown came in the third quarter on a Lucee Lamoreaux end around run.
Never a doubt for Lucee Lamoreaux on this 9-yd scoring run for @MVToroFlag. The 2-pt attempt was no good, so @rmflagfootball clings to a 14-12 heading into the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/tPcudJ7URw
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 21, 2024
Mountain View quarterback Tierah Metcalf used her legs to move the Toros much of the first half before finding her throwing accuracy in the second half. Metcalf and receiver Emma Fischbeck connected on three crucial pass plays during the game's final and winning drive .
Metcalf finished with155 passing yards for the game.
@MVToroFlag puts together another impressive drive catalyzed by this completion from Tierah Metcalf to Emma Fischbeck, but @rmflagfootball defense forces another FG from Kaylei Yazzi. 14-6 Red Mtn leads midway thru. 3 pic.twitter.com/bRCZjdgIzm
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) September 21, 2024