Sometimes overcoming adversity can be the best thing to happen to a team.
After a second half collapse in its only loss of the season to Brophy, Mountain Pointe has responded with four straight wins while averaging 60 points a game.
"We came into the game No. 1 in the power rankings and we feel nothing should have changed," Mountain Pointe coach Norris Vaughan said. "It's a huge win for the reason of being seeded one or two.
"Now there is nothing else we can do but wait until Saturday and see what seed we are and who we are going to play."
Mountain Pointe junior wide receiver Jalen Brown understands the importance of finishing No. 1.
"The number one and two seed is important, number one you have the top bracket, the lower bracket will have many good teams," Jalen Brown said.
His quarterback, Antonio Hinojosa, was sure the Pride did enough to hang on to the top spot.
"We were ranked number one and I don't think we did anything to lose it," Hinojosa said. "We are trying to not let it faze us, everybody is good in Division I. "It would be nice to get to play Hamilton and Brophy again, I would like another chance to play a better second half with Brophy."
"Two of our players set school records in Antonio Hinojosa and Jalen Brown," Vaughan said. "We were trying to get those passes to Brown to pass the record."
Brown needed seven caught passes to break the single season school reception record (which was held by Garrette Holle with 51 in 2010).
Brown ended with eight catches for 154 yards and still has the playoffs to pad the record. Brown earlier in the season set the single game record for reception yards in a game and the season record for touchdowns which was 10.
Brown had five touchdowns on the night to up the record to 16 as he caught four TD passes from Hinojosa for 43, 42, 11 and 9 yards and added a pick six for 65 yards.
Hinojosa set the record for passing yards in a season as he clicked on 13 of 16 passes for 222 yards and five touchdown passes and no interceptions. He hit Brown four times and also found DeJhon Edwards for a 20-yard TD.
Both Hinojosa and Brown are only juniors and exited the game early in the third quarter after hooking up for a nine yard TD strike.
"I got hit on the pass and it was short armed and Jalen just went up and got it," said Hinojosa, who also threw five TD passes against Yuma Kofa. "I didn't know about records."
"I am not looking at stats, just looking to help the team win games," Brown added.
The Pride dominated the first half taking a 42-2 lead to intermission. Westwood threw four interceptions in the half with Brown picking one and the others Charlie Trevino on a deflected pass, Ciyre Simmons and Josh Moses. MP scored all four first quarter touchdowns in under four minutes.
Westwood tried a second fake punt this time Mike Eggres found Ty Dale for a 59 yard pass to the Pride 25-yard line only to have the drive stall on a interception. Hinojosa fumbled in the end zone and was tackled by DJ Bex for a safety and the Warriors only points on the night.
The Warriors, after winning their season opener, lost the final nine games.
"Mountain Pointe is a very fast and good team," Westwood coach Spencer Stowers said. "I appreciate the seniors who stuck the season out. We are excited to moving forward with nine sophomores played along with many juniors who return."
Mountain Pointe 63, Westwood 2
MP 28 14 14 7 -- 63
W 0 2 0 0 -- 2
First Downs: MP 13, W 7
Rushing: MP 15-179, W 28-66
Passing: MP 13-16-0-222, W 7-22-4-130
Fumbles: MP 1-0, W 0
Penalties: MP 4-35, W 2-20
MP - Warren 3 run (Sheehan kick)
MP - Brown 43 pass from Hinojosa (Sheehan kick)
MP- Brown 42 pass from Hinojosa (Sheehan kick)
MP - Brown 65 yard interception return (Sheehan kick)
W- Safety, DJ Bex tackled Hinojosa in end zone;
MP- Brown 11 pass from Hinojosa (Sheehan kick)
MP- Edwards 20 pass from Hinojosa (Sheehan kick)
MP- Brown 9 pass from Hinojosa (Sheehan kick)
MP- Warren 42 run (Sheehan kick)
MP- Payne 52 run (Abercrombie kick)
Rushing: MP - Hinojosa 2 minus 10, Warren 4-58, Craig 6-47, Ellis 1-21, Payne 1-52, Lauer 1-11. W - Clark 11-33, Egger 2 minus 7, Robinson 13-40.
Passing: MP - Hinojosa 13-16-0-222, W - Egger 8-25-4-136
Receiving: MP - Brown 8-154, Butler 2-34, White 1-10, Edwards 2-31. W- Brown 2-27, Robinson 2-6, Dale 3-99, Jumper 1-24
