Top seeded Highland looked every bit the part for one half Thursday night.

But an inspired Mountain View squad spoiled the script for the Hawks. 

The 9th seeded Toros overcame an early deficit before clawing back to upset Highland 24-20 in a 6A quarterfinal playoff game at Highland. 

The win sets up a semifinal showdown at No. 4 Hamilton next Wednesday. 

Mountain View receiver Sadie Gardner led the offensive charge with three touchdown receptions from quarterback Tierah Metcalf. 

”This was a great team win, especially the way we came back and never put our heads down,” Gardner said of the early deficit.  

“Coach Arzaga was a big part of this. He just kept our spirits high and kept encouraging us.”

Highland (12-2) came out sharp and aggressive in the first quarter, jumping out to a 13-0 lead early. 

The Hawks first play from scrimmage was a flea-flicker in which quarterback Payson Shreeve found Jea Genet for a 32-yard gain. The pair would hook up a few plays later for a nine yard touchdown. 

Highland’s second touchdown included some trickery, as Genet took a short pass from Shreeve before lateraling to Asia Denson on a successful hook and ladder play as Denson took it into the endzone from 11 yards. 

Trailing by two scores, Mountain View (11-3) started warming up offensively in the second quarter. 

Metcalf found Gardner open for a 31-yard touchdown, cutting it to 13-7. 

A few minutes before halftime, Asia Denson made another big play for the Hawks. Shreeve was looking for Denson on a deep throw when the ball bounced off Toro defender Sadie Christensen, and Denson grabbed it from the air at the 14 yard line before taking it in for the touchdown and a 20-7 halftime lead.

“Highland came out playing really well in the first half,” Mountain View coach Jesus Arzaga said. 

“That was a tough play right before halftime, but we knew we could make some things happen. I'm just so proud of how these girls fought.”

The Toros wasted no time in the third quarter. Metcalf found Gardner open for a 63-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, cutting into Highland’s lead at 20-14. 

Their third touchdown connection of the night came with 3:27 left in the third quarter. Tessa Christensen’s extra point gave the Toros a 21-20 lead.  
 

Mountain View’s defense came alive in the second half, disrupting Highland’s offense, specifically Shreeve. The junior was pressured and sacked four times in the second half, twice by Josie Smith. 
The win also avenged a 13-10 loss to Highland earlier in the season. 

“We just really wanted to win this game,” Sadie Christensen said afterward. 

“(Highland) beat us before so we were able to stay motivated and believed we could come back.”

Tessa Christensen added a field goal in the fourth quarter  and a key interception in the final minutes. 
Jea Genet had two interceptions for Highland.