Mateo Arenas is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com

After being held to a field goal to start overtime, Pinnacle needed a big stop with its season on the line.

The Pioneers had been gashed by Red Mountain’s run all game, and they knew they would have to stifle running back Isaiah Savoie, who ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

But starting from the 10-yard line the Mountain Lions ran two straight direct snaps to Savoie, the second of which he punched in for a 4-yard walk-off touchdown.

The 12-seeded Mountain Lions won 27-24, stunning the No. 4-seeded host in the AIA 6A Quarterfinal matchup Friday night.

“A lot of times these kinds of games come down to matchups, and we didn't match up very well against the run,” Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke said. “We've been pretty tough to the run most of the year, but they give a lot of looks, and we tried to keep it simple for our guys this week. We just made too many mistakes and they capitalized.”

After going down 7-0 early in the game, the Pioneers turned to junior quarterback Wyatt Horton to answer back. Horton led the Pioneers down the field, and on first and goal, the quarterback heaved up a Patrick Mahomes-esque circus throw, while being dragged to the ground. The ball landed in the hands of running back Mason Hughes, who stood wide-open in the end-zone. for a 4-yard touchdown. The very next drive, Horton threw a 30-yard touchdown to sophomore Josh Pinder on a fourth-and-11, to take a 14-7 lead.

Horton did everything he could for Pinnacle, finishing the game with 276 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 62 yards on the ground.

“This team fights,” Horton said. “Everyone on this team left it all out there. I'm so proud to be a Pioneer, and to be able to play with my brothers. This one hurts, and it's gonna sting for a little bit. I'm just gonna continue to learn, continue to grow, and use this.”

With the score stuck at 14-14 after a scoreless third quarter, the playoff matchup was anyone’s game heading into the fourth. After a big Pinnacle sack on third down, the Pioneers forced a punt with 10:18 remaining in the game. A pack of Pioneers swarmed the Red Mountain punter, and a blocked punt would give Pinnacle the ball on the Mountain Lions' 8-yard line. It only took the Pioneers three plays to capitalize on the turnover, as Horton threw Keenan Johnson a 5-yard touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

While it seemed as if the turnover and quick score was the swing of momentum the Pioneers needed to advance to the semifinals, Red Mountain managed to get the ball back one last time in regulation, with four minutes remaining. Junior quarterback Simon Lopez drove the Mountain Lions 80 yards down field, capping the drive off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Bode Wagner. With one minute left Red Mountain went for the lead, as Wagner took a pitch into the end zone for a two-point conversion, only for it to be called back for a false start. After the penalty, the Mountain Lions opted for the point after  to tie it at 21, in a game they would ultimately win in overtime.

After reaching the 6A Championship game for the first time in program history last season, the Pioneers hoped that they would return to the game, played at Arizona State’s football field, once again. After a first-round win against Desert Ridge, Pinnacle found itself in a similar spot, with a similar goal in sight. But Red Mountain proved to be a tough match for the Pioneers, and Pinnacle can now only look toward next season.

“Even though we had a half-and-half record [in the regular season], after we made it through the first round of playoffs, we all got this feeling that we're just gonna make it to back-to-back state championships,” junior receiver Jace Pina said. “We just kept grinding every single practice, no matter if it was good or bad. ... We did everything we possibly could, it just wasn't in our cards this season.”

With the win over Pinnacle, Red Mountain advances to the semifinals and will face off against the No. 1 seed, Brophy Prep. The game will take place at 7 p.m. Friday at Central High School in Phoenix.