For the people of Mesa, everyone they see while driving down Brown Road is a familiar face, a friendly one in fact – except one day out of the year. 

Red Mountain High School and Mountain View High School are only a few short miles apart, and that’s what makes this football rivalry, Battle of Brown Road, such a unique one. 

“I think what makes the rivalry so special is a lot of the players from both schools know each other because the schools are so close together,” Red Mountain athletic director Dr. James Gowdy said. 

Gowdy said the kids from both schools started out on the same youth football teams, but even though they started friends then grew into rivals, that doesn’t mean the respect is lost. 

“The rivalry started because both schools have a tremendous amount of respect for each other,” Gowdy said.  “I really enjoy watching Red Mountain play Mountain View because I respect their school, I respect their coaches and players, how they go about playing their games and playing the right way.” 

Red Mountain, home of the Mountain Lions, opened in 1988, 12 years after Mountain View, home of the Toros, opened in 1976. 

Red Mountain’s head football coach, Mike Peterson, was once the Mountain View defeinsive coordinator before crossing sides to coach the rival team.

On top of this, the Red Mountain varsity pom coach, Brianne Skidmore, and varsity cheer coach, Beth Goodman, are both Mountain View alumnae.

Mountain View’s head coach Mike Fell said there is still a competitive edge, even with the respect Gowdy mentioned. 

“I don’t think it’s that friendly,” Fell said.  I think it’s friendly afterwards. But it’s like if you are battling a brother; you’re gonna give everything you possibly can because you want to beat them in the worst way.” 

And last year, that’s exactly what Mountain View did.

In 2016, Mountain View beat Red Mountain 42-35, but it wasn’t an easy win.

The Toros were up 35-7 at half, then the Mountain Lions came back toi tie the game, but the Toros gave it their all and pulled through to score again for the win.

“It’s real easy to quit when you’re down like that,” Fell said concerning Red Mountain’s comeback after the half. “That shows you what kind of rivalry it is.”

Since 2004, the two schools have been neck-and-neck in competition against each other, as Mountain View is slightly ahead with a 6-5 record.

The Toros have a 3-3 record this season, whiiel the Mountain Lions have a 4-2 record. 

This season’s game will be the first for Mountain View quarterback, junior Brandon Nuñez. Nuñez said he’s familiar with students at Red Mountain, but it won’t change the way he plays the game. 

“You just have to go out there and focus and try to bring home the 'W',” Nuñez said. “This is my first year getting to really play Red Mountain, so it’ll be exciting.”

Mountain View’s wide receiver, senior Tate Allen, is excited to face their rival again for the last time after winning the game last season. Allen said he has many friends whom he used to play football with when they were younger who now go to Red Mountain, and he enjoys being able to go up against them. 

“It’s kind of different at first, but I’d say it’s kind of cool honestly to play people you know,” Allen said. “I mean, you wanna go out there and show them how your team is doing and show them what you made your team out of and what your team is about.”

Allen recalled talking to his Red Mountain friends after winning the game last season and how their friendship was never tainted. 

“After the game, I was just talking to them and they were all just bawling their eyes out,” Allen said. “We just brought it in; we gave them a hug and said it’s all good.”

The two schools will battle Friday on Mountain View’s home turf, putting friendships on pause for a day once again.