Jacob Franklin
ASU Student Journalist

Up 35-7, Mountain View holds off Red Mountain rally

October 10, 2016 by Jacob Franklin, Arizona State University


The Mountain View Toros forced six turnovers and received six total touchdowns from senior quarterback Wheeler Harris enroute to a victory against a Red Mountain team that didn't quit Friday night.

Red Mountain squandered a 35-7 halftime lead and needed a late fourth quarter touchdown to escape with a 42-35 road win.  

The turnovers proved crucial, as Red Mountain threw five interceptions, including one during their last drive. But a fourth quarter turnover by Mountain View almost proved costly as well. 

With about seven minutes remaining in the game, Red Mountain recovered a fumbled kick off. Two plays later, Lance Lawson tied the game at 35-35 with a 3-yard run.

But Mountain View finally answered back in the second half with about four minutes remaining, when Harris found his favorite target, JaCobby Dinwiddie, for a 70-yard touchdown. Dinwiddie, a sophomore, finished with seven receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns.  

“We were just making plays,” Mountain View head coach Mike Fell said. “We put pressure on him (Duffy), and our DBs did a great job.”

Four different Red Mountain players intercepted a pass. 

But Lawson scored three touchdowns to keep the Mountain Lions in the game.

“Lance is one of the best players in the state,” Red Mountain head coach Ron Wisneiwski said. “You just keep giving him the ball, and he makes people miss and he runs hard.”

Unlike the second half, the first half belonged to Mountain View. 

The Toros struck first when a drive, extended by a roughing the kicker penalty, ended in a 35-yard touchdown catch by Benjamin Novak. Harris calmly handled a botched snap before finding Novak. 

On Red Mountain's next possession, Austin Duffy connected with senior wide receiver Josh Daniels for a 38-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Mountain Lions went ahead, 7-6, for the first and only time in the game.

The offensive fireworks continued to fly when Harris engineered a 74-yard drive that ended with 28-yard reception by Dinwiddie. A drive later, Harris (405 passing yard, 5 TDs) and Dinwiddie struck again during a 53-yard touchdown play, giving the 4-3 Toros a 21-7 lead.   

“That kid (Dinwiddie) is a stud,” Harris said. “He’s just got speed. He did it for me, and this offensive line had an outstanding night.”

After another Red Mountain punt, the Toros' ground game helped set up their next touchdown, a 12-yard score by Harris.

That drive featured a 35-yard run from junior wide receiver Dean Yamada. A Mountain View interception led to its final first half touchdown, capped off by Harris' fourth touchdown pass, this time to senior Curtis Hodges to complete a 95-yard drive.   

But a couple of tunovers by Harris in the second half allowed Red Mountain (4-3) to climb back. 

Duffy's 27-yard touchdown run and a 11-yard touchdown pass to Lawson were scored after Harris turned the ball over.  

“We need to take care of the ball,” Harris said. 

Up next for Red Mountain is Mesa High on Friday, when Mountain View will face off against Dobson.