By the time the football game got to overtime, Mesa Red Mountain had finally figured things out. To get into the end zone, the Mountain Lions had to throw the ball.

SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football action

After repeated failures trying to run the ball, Lions’ quarterback Derek Mendoza threw two scoring passes in overtime to give Red Mountain a 21-14 upset win Friday at Glendale Mountain Ridge.

The Lions (6-5) advanced to the 5A-I quarterfinals on Friday when they will meet Tucson Salpointe.

Mendoza’s first scoring pass to Molina went for 12 yards and tied the game, 14-14, after the first overtime. His second touchdown pass to Julian Madison of 10 yards ended up being the game-winner.

“I wasn’t so sure we wanted to win it until the end,” Red Mountain coach Jim Jones said. “The kids came through in the end.”

The defense came up big as well, stopping Mountain Ridge (8-3) on four straight plays in the second overtime.

Mendoza said the experience of playing in previous overtimes helped Red Mountain.

“It was kind of crazy, but we weren’t as nervous because we just had an overtime game last week,” he said.

It was a game that shouldn’t have even gone to overtime. But Red Mountain’s inability to gain short yardage inside the 10-yard line made for a nervous night.

The Lions started out fine, taking the opening kickoff and going on a 12 play, 68-yard drive. They had a first-and-goal at Mountain Ridge’s 2-yard line and it took four plays before Mendoza finally scored from the 1-yard line.

Red Mountain got inside Mountain Ridge’s 10-yard line three more times in the game and came away with zero points. Mendoza fumbled on one series and Red Mountain turned the ball over on downs two other times. The Lions also missed two field goals.

Keeping the football away from Mountain Ridge’s offense was crucial for Red Mountain, and running back Grayson Williard was the key. The fullback carried the football 31 times for 146 yards.

Mountain Ridge quarterback Kevin Yost was just 14-of-30 passing for 166 yards and two interceptions. Mountain Ridge’s only TD in regulation came when wide receiver Travis Hutchinson threw a 14-yard pass to Cody Wollschlager.