For second-ranked Desert Ridge, it’s another chance to prove that the Jaguars should be included in the championship discussion. For Mountain View, it’s a second chance to get its new regime off on the right foot.

The two Mesa schools meet on Friday at Mountain View in the Division I teams’ second game of the season. Desert Ridge has followed up its title game campaign of a year ago with a new-look offense in its opening-night rout of Gilbert. Jordan Becerra, the quarterback who led the Jaguars to its state runner-up finish in 2010, had four receptions for 146 yards and two scores in that season-opening win. And Parker Rasmussen played much of the night at quarterback, throwing for 227 yards. But they could switch places against Mountain View. More bad news for the Toros – Desert Ridge running Joey Counts, who was a big part of last year’s success, sat out the opener but is expected to return from his shoulder injury on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mountain View is licking its wounds from a 43-7 loss to Desert Mountain in Scottsdale last week. And Desert Mountain was 0-10 a year ago. So new Toro coach Chad DeGrenier will have even more scrutiny now from Mountain View fans whose expectations are high after a disappointing 5-6 season last year, the school’s first losing season ever.

 

-Al Bravo