Mesa Red Mountain’s Derek Molina went 55 yards around the right side for a touchown the first time he touched the ball Friday night.

SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football

The second time he carried, he went 19 yards for a score.

By the time Dobson brought finally Molina down after an 8-yard gain — he had taken down the visiting Mustangs and dealt a blow to their playoff hopes.

Mesa Red Mountain (5-3 overall, 2-0 in region) beat visiting Mesa Dobson (4-5, 1-2) 36-14 in a key 5A East Valley Region game.

“We’re two pretty equal teams,” Red Mountain coach Jim Jones said. “We’re both trying to win and get into the playoffs. This kept our hopes alive.”

Molina finished with 214 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns.

His first touchdown came on Red Mountain’s third play from scrimmage.

The Mountain Lions recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Molina got the call on the first play of the drive and made it 14-0 with 7:16 left in the first quarter.

Derek Mendoza hit Joe Lancaster with an 11 pass midway through the second quarter to give Red Mountain a 21-0 lead.

Mendoza threw 9 yards to Cody Saul for a TD in the fourth quarter.

Molina’s third score, on a 13-yard run early in the fourth quarter, gave the Mountain Lions a 36-0 lead.