Mesa Mountain View advances to showdown with Hamilton in 6A flag playoffs
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Losing its head coach a few weeks before the start of the playoffs was not how Mesa Mountain View envisioned its flag football season going, but that’s the reality for the Toros.
First-year coach Rene Elizondo recently departed the team for an opportunity with Grand Canyon University. Defensive coordinator Adam Robbs, a former Division II college football player at Caldwell University, took over as interim head coach.
There was little sign of any change as No. 11 Mesa Mountain View defeated No. 6 Phoenix Desert Vista, 38-7, in the first round of the 6A playoffs on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
“When we came into summer camp, we already knew what the standard was and how we were going to set the standard,” Robbs said. “We just continued on that. Nothing changes. We just continue on the standard that was instilled from the start. Coach Rene did a great job of instilling that in there. Our job now is to continue to follow that.”
Mountain View jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game, quickly setting the tone. Senior wide receiver Emma Fischbeck hauled in a 20-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Tierah Metcalf to get the scoring started early on the opening drive.
On the first play of the next drive, Fischbeck, playing defensive back, intercepted Desert Vista senior Ella Creech.
Creech, normally a wide receiver, was filling in for senior quarterback Jackie Jimenez, who was injured on the final play of the regular-season finale. The Thunder sorely missed Jimenez, one of the top dual-threats in the state with 46 passing touchdowns and 16 rushing touchdowns.
Two plays later, Metcalf ran it in from 1-yard out to make it 14-0.
Then Fischbeck, for the second straight drive, intercepted Creech again on the first play. A short field goal pushed the lead 17-0 with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter.
After Desert Vista got on the board following a 7-yard touchdown run from Creech to make it 17-7 early in the second quarter, Mountain View responded — and it was Fischbeck again.
This time, it came on a 60-yard catch and run to go ahead 24-7 with 6:52 left in the second.
On the next drive, Fischbeck came up with her third interception to halt a driving Thunder offense just before halftime.
Fischbeck is making the argument for being the best two-way player in the state. After Wednesday's game, she was up to 32 receiving touchdowns at wide receiver to go along with 16 interceptions at defensive back.
“She does this every day in practice,'' Robbs said. "She has that natural instinct as an athlete to go and get the ball. She’s going to grow and flourish into a very good receiver and safety wherever she decides to go for college.”
After the game, Metcalf talked about how the team responded to Elizondo’s departure.
“I think we came back stronger,” she said. “I feel like we handled it really well. He was a great coach. But we just had to keep pushing forward and keep doing what Toros do.”
With the win, Mountain View (13-4) moves on to play No. 3 Chandler Hamilton (18-0) in the quarterfinals, the defending 6A state champions. Hamilton has won 35 games in a row since the 2023 season. The last Arizona team to beat the Huskies was the Toros, who won the inaugural 6A title. Metcalf was the quarterback in that 2023 game, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The two teams met earlier this season in October, with Hamilton winning 35-6. Mountain View will have two days to prepare.
“Work on the things that we didn’t perfect last time, really come out to try to perfect those things,” Metcalf said. “I feel like we’re pretty confident. I feel like we all really want this win on Saturday. If we just come out together and work as one, I feel like we can get there.”
For Desert Vista (10-4), it’s the end to what will be a memorable season.
The Thunder earned the highest seed in school history and hosted its first-ever playoff game at home. Junior Aleena Tonto, who has only played quarterback in practice, was put in at the end of the fourth quarter and displayed promising arm strength.
“The good thing is our underclassmen,” Desert Vista coach Derek Herring said. “They got this whole experience. I think our seniors have set a standard in the way we practice, the way we play. That’s a big building block for us.”
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa Mountain View beats Desert Vista in Round 1 6A playoff game
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