Red Mountain Holds Off Casteel for 35-34 Road Victory

Red Mountain and Casteel traded explosive plays, turnovers and momentum swings throughout Thursday night's varsity football matchup, but a late defensive stand on an extra-point attempt ultimately helped Red Mountain escape Casteel High School with a 35-34 victory.

Casteel struck first with a passing touchdown on its opening possession and converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Red Mountain's response came quickly and explosively. No. 82 Airreon Windom hauled in an 80-yard touchdown reception to tie the game after No. 22 Chase Pitzer converted the extra point.

Windom continued making an impact beyond the receiving game, adding a strong punt return that helped give Red Mountain favorable field position later in the quarter.

The Mountain Lions also produced an important special-teams play when No. 18 Alatini Lutui blocked a Casteel kick, giving the offense another opportunity.

No. 14 Caleb Joe connected with No. 81 Alex Baab for a long completion during the ensuing possession. Joe later found Windom for a 59-yard touchdown, Windom's second touchdown reception of the quarter. Pitzer's PAT sent Red Mountain into the second quarter leading 14-7.

Defense took center stage for much of the second quarter. No. 44 Rosten Wood recorded a sack for Red Mountain as the Mountain Lions worked to slow Casteel's passing attack.

The Colts eventually broke through with another passing touchdown and successful PAT, tying the game at 14-14.

Red Mountain answered before halftime with a drive that involved several offensive contributors. Joe connected with No. 11 Ronnie Pierson, No. 15 Darius-grayson Courts and No. 4 Jayveon Williams as the Mountain Lions moved downfield.

Runs from Windom and No. 20 Julius Miolla helped push Red Mountain deeper into Casteel territory. Miolla eventually finished the possession with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, and Pitzer's extra point gave Red Mountain a 21-14 halftime lead.

The third quarter became the defining stretch of a back-and-forth game.

No. 2 Gard Liles intercepted a Casteel pass early in the quarter, giving Red Mountain an opportunity to extend its lead. The Mountain Lions capitalized, with Joe connecting with No. 8 Kaeden Weaver and Williams during the drive before Joe finished it himself with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Pitzer converted again, putting Red Mountain ahead 28-14.

Casteel refused to disappear. The Colts answered with a 60-yard passing touchdown to pull within seven at 28-21.

A Red Mountain fumble then gave Casteel possession at the Mountain Lions' 10-yard line. The Colts converted the turnover into a 2-yard rushing touchdown and PAT, tying the game at 28-28.

Red Mountain needed only one explosive play to answer.

Joe connected with Weaver for an 80-yard touchdown, and Pitzer's fifth successful extra point of the night restored Red Mountain's advantage at 35-28.

The Mountain Lions' defense created another turnover before the quarter ended when No. 5 Mikko Lopez intercepted a Casteel pass, helping Red Mountain carry its seven-point advantage into the fourth quarter.

The final period turned into a fight to protect that lead.

Red Mountain moved into scoring position behind several runs from No. 9 Jayden Mansaray, but a field-goal attempt was unsuccessful.

Casteel took over and attempted to capitalize, only for Lutui to make another major defensive contribution. After blocking a kick earlier in the game, No. 18 added an interception in the fourth quarter.

Momentum immediately swung again when Casteel recovered a Red Mountain fumble and drove deep into Mountain Lions territory.

The Red Mountain defense forced Casteel all the way to fourth down from the 1-yard line, but the Colts punched in a rushing touchdown to make it 35-34.

Then came the play that preserved the lead.

Casteel's ensuing extra-point attempt was blocked by Red Mountain, keeping the Mountain Lions ahead by a single point.

With the game still hanging in the balance, Red Mountain needed to work the remaining time off the clock. Miolla contributed on the ground before Windom broke another long run that moved the Mountain Lions across midfield. Mansaray, Miolla and Joe continued moving the ball in Casteel territory as the final seconds disappeared.

Red Mountain walked away with the 35-34 victory after a game in which offense, defense and special teams all played significant roles.

Joe accounted for a pair of touchdown passes and a rushing score, while Windom delivered two explosive touchdown receptions of 80 and 59 yards. Weaver added the go-ahead 80-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, and Miolla supplied Red Mountain's other rushing touchdown.

Defensively, Red Mountain recorded interceptions from Liles, Lopez and Lutui, while Lutui also contributed a blocked kick earlier in the contest. Pitzer went 5-for-5 on extra points, points that became especially important when the final margin shrank to one.

For Baab, who made a long reception during the first quarter, the victory also marked the first high school game of his career. Afterward, the Red Mountain receiver spoke with Lucky Monster Magazine about the energy surrounding the season-opening road win and his confidence in the Mountain Lions' receiving group.

Baab described the unit as a close group that has each other's backs and is hungry to make a statement. He also expressed his belief that Red Mountain's receivers can create opportunities on everything from deep passes to screens and said the team intends to carry the same energy and intensity forward.

On a night decided by a single point, Red Mountain needed contributions from nearly every phase of the game. The Mountain Lions got them, turning explosive touchdowns, three interceptions, special-teams plays and five successful PATs into a 35-34 season-opening road victory over Casteel.