By Mason Byers
Staff Writer
After losing to Mountain Ridge in the semifinals last year, the Red Mountain flag football team has a vengeance on their mind in the 2024 playoffs.
The AIA flag football playoffs are officially underway as the 10th-seeded Gilbert Tigers faced the 7th-seeded Red Mountain Mountain Lions. Red Mountain came into this game extra prepared and it showed as they almost played a flawless game. It ended up beating Gilbert 31-6 in a game where it seemed like everything was working.
The Mountain Lions started their season 3-3 after an up-and-down start, however after their first-round playoff win over the Tigers, they now sit on a seven-game winning streak.
At this point of the season, being on a hot streak can make a team very dangerous. The head coach of Red Mountain, Julian Madison, knows what his team is capable of this year.
“We came out with the mindset, high energy, and good execution,” Madison said. “If we do that we’re a tough team to beat no matter who is in front of us.”
A tough team to beat is what they were Wednesday night, as on Red Mountains' opening drive they scored a 48-yard touchdown. The touchdown was by their electric junior quarterback Da'Koreyauna Roberts.
On their very next drive, the momentum kept going in their favor. Roberts once again put together another efficient drive as she found senior wide receiver Trisha Stine-Groves for a massive gain to set them up at the goal line. Just two plays later senior Didrika Valentin scampered her way into the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown.
Roberts, who has played amazing all year, thinks their team might not be getting the credit they deserve.
“I think we’re really underrated right now,” Roberts said. “We’re showing our talent very well.”
The talent kept on shining for the Mountain Lions as their defense kept making crucial stops as well and on their opening drive to start the second half they found the endzone once again. This time Roberts found freshman wide receiver Haleigh Jonesfor a 14-yard touchdown to keep extending their lead.
Once again Red Mountains’ defense came through as senior defensive back Sierra Mellish snagged her first of two interceptions on the night. The interception set up a 23-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Tatum Gowdy.
Then to start the fourth quarter, and to put the game away Mellish got her second interception, but this time she was able to take it back for six.
Mellish, just like Roberts, thinks they have finally put other 6A teams on notice.
“We’re just trying to set the standards,” Mellish said. “Make people scared, right now they’re not scared of us, I think this might prove we are something this year.”
Red Mountain will now face the Basha Bears in the second round on Saturday, and Madison knows what attitude they need to have.
“We’re trying to have that next-play attitude,” Madison said. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, we’re onto the next one, onto the next play.”
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