CHANDLER, AZ- The game of football is full of up and downs, and defining moments that can determine a team’s season. Red Mountain had one of those defining moments Friday night.

 

With 5:53 to go in the game, Basha's Collin Collins hit Jaylyn Goodman for an 18-yard touchdown pass to trim the Red Mountain lead down to six.

 

What was once a 21-7 halftime lead was now a 27-21 margin with the momentum leaning towards Basha.

 

Red Mountain would start from its own 20 knowing that it still controled the outcome of the game with a chance to post its first win, but only if the Mountain Lions could pick up a few first downs and run out the clock.

 

A lot of times not much needs to be said to get geared up for the big moments under the lights.

 

Senior running back and wide receiver Lance Lawson stressed how a few first downs for a victory should be “enough motivation.”

 

The game was officially sealed when on a 3rd and one in Basha territory, when Lance Lawson rushed for a 5-yard gain to give Red Mountain the final first down they needed. The clock hit zero. Victory.

 

On this final drive, Red Mountain marched 66 yards down the field, a drive that eventually ended with a Cannon Griner knee.

 

Of those 66 yards 56 of those came on the ground, while only 10 came through the air.

 

Head coach Mike Peterson was emotional after watching his team grit their way to a victory.

 

It was Peterson's first win as a head coach, but he was more impressed and excited by the way his team battled its way to the win column.

 

"I'm just happy for the kids, I've won some games in my life that is my first win as a head coach. But, I'm happy that the kids were successful,” Peterson said.

 

“We worked, we simplified what we were going to do tonight, we worked on it all week, we had great practices and I'm happy the kids did well.”

 

Not only was the run game the story on the final drive it was the story all night.

 

Red Mountain ran the ball 47 times for 312 yards.

 

“That's what we came to do," Peterson said, "we came to run the ball.”

 

And run the ball they did.

 

The Red Mountain run game was highlighted by sophomore Ty Mcelroy who had 28 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

 

After his career night, Mcelroy was found by his friends and family, giving the praise to what seemed to be everyone but himself.

 

“It feels great, I've got a lot of support from my coaches and my team,” Mcelroy said.

 

Mcelroy also gave credit to how hard his offensive line played by emphasizing how they were “picking up their assignments.”

 

Mcelroy got majority of the carries but Lawson did his fair share of damage out of the backfield.

 

In his first full game, back from an ankle injury Lawson rushed for 92 yards on just nine carries, including a 37-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give Red Mountain an early 14-0 lead.

 

It only took one word for Basha head coach Rich Wellbrock to describe the two running backs performance on Friday night.

 

“Electric,” Wellbrock said. “You know every time they touch the ball something good happens.”

 

The football isn’t the only thing Mcelroy and Lawson shared Friday night, each had high praise for one another.

 

“He had a huge night, he's a sophomore, He has a very bright future, he’s hard to tackle, he runs hard, he has moves. He's going to be he's going to be a beast this year, Lawson said when talking about Mcelroy.

 

“That's just the beginning for him. You know he's coming off the ankle injury, Lance is one of the hardest working kids I know. So, me and him we’re a good duo, Mcelroy said when talking about Lawson.

 

It is very possible that three months from now people may look back on Friday night and say it was that drive with 5:53 on the clock that turned the season around.

 

Or, it could just be one of those nights that when the players and coaches look back a smile gets brought to their face.