#4 Red Mountain scores 2 late TDs to shock #1 Highland 28-24 in 6A semifinals

With less than 7 minutes left in the game, Highland had the ball inside the 5 yard line and a 24-14 lead. A touchdown would likely put the game out of reach.

But '26 ATH Cadence McCanless saved the day for Red Mountain, intercepting a Highland pass and taking it back 95 yards to the endzone for a pick six to cut their deficit to 24-21.

The Mountain Lions quickly forced a 3 & out on the next possession and set their offense up in Highland territory after a short punt. The offense took advantage and took a 28-24 lead on a Ava Klene TD run.

Rewinding back to the start of the game, it was back and forth from the jump. 

On their opening drive, Highland marched down the field behind the arm and legs of their sophomore quarterback, Lacie Nemchick. 

After Nemchick marched her team all the way down the endzone, she capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to junior center Bella Blum. 

Highland forced a turnover on downs and got the ball back quickly.

They didn’t have the ball for long as Red Mountain junior linebacker Tatum Gowdy intercepted the ball. 

Red Mountain then let their star senior quarterback Korey Roberts have the ball in her hands to get points on the board. 

On the drive, Roberts had four carries for 82 yards and capped off the great drive by keeping it herself once again and scampering into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. 

After the interception, Highland was then able to get back its lead. 

They got down the field once more, this time, though settling for a field goal. 

Before halftime, things kept trending in the right direction for Highland. 

On defense, the Hawks were able to cause a turnover as freshman athlete Ela Witcher snagged an interception. 

Then, with a few minutes left in the first half, they added to their lead.

It was once again Nemchick throwing the touchdown pass, this time to junior running back Aylleen Murillo for a 3-yard touchdown. 

The Hawks then made another great defensive play to prevent Red Mountain from scoring before halftime.

Highland’s sophomore defensive back Emma Frost made a diving interception to keep the momentum rolling for her team. 

Highland led 17-7 at halftime, but Red Mountain head coach Julian Madison told his team he was going to keep fighting. 

“I said we can down fighting, throwing haymakers, or we can go down tucking our tail between our legs,” Madison said. “You guys make the decision, because I’m going to fight.” 

The team took that message well and fought in the second half. 

Red Mountain opened up the second half with a fantastic drive. 

They pushed the ball down the field methodically, and it was Roberts rushing for another touchdown to cut the lead. 

Roberts is a leader of this team, and every single player wanted to win no matter what. 

“All of our girls are here to work hard; they wanted it,” Roberts said. “We got some dawgs with us.” 

At the end of three quarters, Highland led 17-14, and then the fourth quarter chaos ensued. 

Highlands’ high-powered offense added to their lead in the fourth quarter as Nemchick threw her third touchdown pass of the night, this time to senior wide receiver Addi Riggs for a 4-yard touchdown. 

The Mountain Lions then turned the ball over on downs inside their own 20-yard line with less than 7 minutes to go in the game. 

Red Mountain had its back against the wall as Highland was looking to add to the lead and seal the victory. 

That’s when senior linebacker Cadence McCanless saved the day with the pick six.

“The mindset was I had to do it for my team,” McCanless said. “It’s a stressful situation. It’s just being patient as well and doing what I do best.” 

After the Klene TD run to take the 28-24 lead, 2:59 remained in the game for Highland to put together a game-winning TD drive.

The Hawks made it all the way down to Red Mountain's 7-yard line. 

On 4th and goal from the 7-yard line, Red Mountain forced a stop and completed the comeback against Highland to secure their spot in the 6A state championship game. 

Despite some wonky seeding from the AIA powerpoint rankings, on Saturday, the 6A state championship game will be a rematch between Red Mountain and Hamilton. Red Mountain is prepared for the moment. 

“The first game of the season against Tucson (I said), we are prepared for this moment, we’re prepared for this season,” Madison said. “I believe we’re pretty prepared.” 

Next up: Red Mountain will face Hamilton in the 6A state championship game on Saturday. Highland's undefeated season comes to an end.