Mountain View used big plays to get past Palo Verde late Thursday night at home. A long punt return and an interception helped fuel a 27-0 victory over the Titans after Mikayla Gleeson opened up the scoring on an eight-yard run with 4:46 left in the first quarter.

The Mountain Lions have a much bigger roster than the Titans and some of that talent was on display after Mountain View forced a punt as time expired in the opening quarter and Emma Gibbons took the punt back 60 yards to put the Mountain Lions up 14-0. Then, Ashley Gospodarek came up with an interception to put her team up 21-0 with 11:35 left in the half.

Both teams struggled to move the ball from there with defense stepping up for both squads until Gospodarek hit Gleeson from 19 yards out the what became the final score of the game at 27-0 with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

Gospodarek threw for 29 yards and she rushed for 53 more and Gleeson finished with two touchdowns. Jennymar Stevens added another interception and Gibbons also saw time in the QB position. Aalaeyah Lujan made all three extra point kicks he attempted. Mountain View freshman QB Braelyn Vincent had several big plays running and throwing and she will be a threat the rest of the way as she gains more experience.

Mountain View (1-0) will travel to Play rival Marana (2-0) next Tuesday in the “Battle for the Saddle” and Palo Verde (0-2) will visit Buena (1-1) the same night.