First game of the season for Mountain View and Tucson High played out like an end-of-year battle for a playoff spot, with the game ending in a 21-20 overtime win for the Mountain Lions at Gridley Stadium.
“We told them we felt that this was a playoff semifinal type of game,” Mountain View coach Matt Johnson said. “We had just told them all week long, really all summer long to expect just a dog fight and that it was going to take everything we had to compete with these guys.
“We know Tucson High has done a great job. Coach Zach (Neveleff) has really energized this Tucson High program. He’s doing an amazing job here with these coaches and these players. They really got some great leadership on their team as well. We knew it was going to be just a heck of a game.”
Coach Matt Johnson gives high praise to Tucson High and their coaches, talks about his assistant coaches calling the right play at the right time in overtime and preparing for the season knowing Tucson High was their first opponent. @AllSportsTucson @recruit_theview pic.twitter.com/XvXaXWQfEs
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 30, 2025
“Really good team, they are a playoff team,” Mountain View linebacker Jason Pogue said. “They won a playoff game last year. We are definitely expecting to maybe see them again (in the postseason), for sure.”
Mountain View middle linebacker Jason Pogue after the Mountain Lions 21-20 overtime win over Tucson High had one word for the team’s win.. Grit. He talks about the last touchdown in overtime and more. @AllSportsTucson @recruit_theview pic.twitter.com/ly0E00KpxW
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 30, 2025
The two 5A foes, who are now in separate regions, battled each other and themselves as first-game jitters showed up in a plethora of yellow flags throughout the game.
Offsides, encroachment, holding, unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the kicker, too many men on the field — both teams showed that the first game is the game to shake out all the cobwebs from the offseason, learn from mistakes, and tighten up for the rest of the season.
Tucson High struck first with 8:19 left in the first quarter when quarterback Derek Mesa found receiver Ezra Spivey cutting toward the end zone. Spivey tipped the ball and caught it for six. The extra point by Xavier Vazquez was good.
A Spivey ball spin after the touchdown cost the Badgers some yardage on the kickoff.
The Badgers’ 7-0 lead held until Mountain View running back Drake Davis cut through the middle for a touchdown at the 8:05 mark in the second quarter. The extra point by Rourke Cano was good and the teams were knotted at seven apiece.
It was the first game in which the new field lights were used. It might have been a little too much for the new lights. They took a little siesta during halftime as the field went dark. The good news, the band had completed their performance before darkness ensued.
The lights came on again in time for the start of the second half.
With 5:04 left in the third quarter, Tucson High pulled ahead of the Mountain Lions.
The Badgers’ offensive line created a big push at the goal line allowing running back Makoa Pena to sneak in for a touchdown. Vazquez’s extra point kick was good.
With the Mountain Lions trailing the Badgers 14-7 with 5:04 left in the game, quarterback Ion Brin found receiver Wyatt Hughes running down the right field line.
Hughes broke a tackle and sprinted in for a touchdown. Cano hit the extra point tying the game at 14.
“It was fun. It’s been a long time coming. I was excited, I was seriously excited. I just went to the edge, got a little action in there, get the edge, got into the end zone, it was fun, it was fun,” Hughes said on his game tying catch.
Senior receiver Wyatt Hughes caught the touchdown that tied the game at 14. He talks about his catch and run to the end zone and getting chills when the Mountain Lions made the rushing touchdown in overtime. @AllSportsTucson @recruit_theview pic.twitter.com/4bxrUwiW4b
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 30, 2025
Tucson High had a chance to win the game with 4.6 seconds to go.
The Badgers set up for a field goal at the Mountain View 16-yard line but the kick sailed wide right as time ran out.
But wait … Mountain View was called for roughing the kicker. The ball was moved to the 8-yard line, and Tucson set up for a second try. The Badgers were called for a false start moving the ball back to the 13.
The third try should have been the charm, but the Mountain Lions blocked the kick and the game went into overtime.
4.6 seconds left in the game.. Mountain View and Tucson tied at 14.. Tucson at the MV 16, kicks a field goal and misses. Mountain View is called for roughing the kicker. Then Tucson is called for off sides. No time left on the clock.. Tucson kicks it and Mountain View blocks it..… pic.twitter.com/OS3LWQyy0I
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 30, 2025
Arizona high school overtime rules give each team a possession starting from the 10-yard line and all plays are goal-to-go situations until a winner is determined.
Tucson High had the first shot at scoring.
An acrobatic catch in the left corner of the end zone, over multiple defenders, by Badgers’ receiver Malaki Hiadzi Cunningham gave Tucson a 20-14 lead. The extra-point try was blocked.
On Mountain View’s first play in overtime, running back Michael Davis took the reverse hand-off around the left side for a touchdown.
“My OC, Zach Wolf, felt that they’re just playing so hard on the back side edge that we could hit that reverse,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of a version of the reverse that we would be able to hit that, and his eyes saw that, and my assistant head coach Ray Reid was also yelling at me to make sure we got it in. They were right.
“Great players Michael Davis, great blocks, great coaches … they make you look smart, so I get to look smart tonight.”
Cano hit the extra point giving Mountain View the 21-20 victory.
Mountain View gets the victory over Tucson High in OT 21-20.
Two teams with grit and fight played neck-and-neck to the very end. A blocked extra point was the difference.
What a game!
Mountain View travels to Trevor G Browne and Tucson hosts Salpointe next Friday.… pic.twitter.com/tCQhE2iiX0
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 30, 2025
“Grit. We slugged it out,” Pogue said. “We won, we wanted it more. Tucson High did a great job. They competed. It was neck and neck the whole game, but we came out with the win. We wanted it more.”
Both Pogue and Hughes said they had chills on the run by Davis in overtime.
Next up:
Mountain View travels to Trevor G. Browne (0-1) and Tucson High hosts 6A Salpointe (1-0). Browne lost to visiting Canyon del Oro 49-0 on Friday night. Salpointe outlasted Marana 20-18 at home.
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