Having found its offense, Mesa Red Mountain takes aim at the elite in Division I on Friday. The eighth-ranked Lions (3-2) easily routed Gilbert 35-0 last week while No. 5 Mesa Desert Ridge was cruising past Mesa Skyline.

The Jaguars (4-1) are apparently in transition, having decided that Jordan Becerra will be their quarterback after playing wide receiver for the first half of the season. Parker Rasmussen will now go to wideout, when he isn’t used in situations at quarterback. However, that won't be the case for Friday because Rasmussen was ejected from last week’s win over Skyline for bumping a referee and has to sit out one game.

That puts extra pressure on Becerra to run and the Jaguars to count on their other big performer, running back Joey Counts. Still coming back from a shoulder injury, Counts ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns against Skyline in his best performance of the season. It was Becerra and Counts that led the Jaguars to the state title game a year ago and so far this year – outside of a 28-6 loss to top-ranked Hamilton – Desert Ridge looks on pace to make a return trip.

But the Jaguars have an interesting opponent in Red Mountain. The Lions now have a legitimate threat in transfer Marcus Brantley. The senior has 277 yards rushing in two games and scored twice in last week’s rout of Gilbert. Brantley is also a threat as a receiver and along with Billy Freeman and Daniel McGill make the Lions a threat to score anywhere. Freeman and McGill returned from injury last week and figure to be healthier for this week’s matchup. This could be the toughest test for the Lions, who travel to Mountain View and Westwood after this week and then finish with Skyline and Highland at home.

-Al Bravo