A  Mesa Jackrabbit and Mountain View Toro co-existing? It's happening this fall in Florence.

New Florence football coach Steve McKane hired the father of  former playing opponents, Jerry Wheeler, a longtime line coach at Mountain View,  to coach the lines for the Gophers in 2012.

Steve McKane played for Mesa High from 1990-92 when the Jackrabbits garnered two 5A titles (1990 and 1992). McKane was a two-way standout at center and linebacker. Wheeler was an assistant at Mountain View under Jesse Parker during that span as well as before and after. Mountain View won a title in 1993 after McKane had graduated.

That was an era the Mesa-Mountain View rivarly was arguably at its peak due to the concurrent success the programs rode in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Steve McKane's father, Bill, was an assistant at Mesa High at the time and later became head coach succeeding Jim Rattay, who piloted Mesa from 1985-1993.

"It  brings back a lot of old memories from 20 years ago when Mesa and Mt. View played in the state game," Steve McKane said of Wheeler. " We have a good time reminiscing of the old dominant Mesa High and Mountain View teams during our time period of playing against each other."

Jerry Wheeler had two sons play for Mountain View in the late 80s and early 90s (Damon 1989-91 seasons and Tyler 1992-94).

Steve McKane is in his first year guiding Florence. He's working to continue the success of the program resurrected the last few years by George De La Torre, now Dobson's new coach.