Less than a minute — 57 seconds, in fact — is all that was needed for momentum to swing in Mountain View’s favor for good in a football game in which it proved difficult to grab.
Or even hold onto for a possession. Or even if that single possession was a kickoff return on consecutive long touchdowns.
So when the Thunder finally got the lead for good, then stared at a 38-25 victory in their 3A Greater St. Helens League opener on Friday at Kiggins Bowl, for many, if felt like an escape.
An escape from a Hudson’s Bay team that never left its heels for the entire 48 minutes. Not until the Philip Earnhardt’s interception on Bay’s final drive inside 2 minutes, 30 seconds to play did it feel like the game’s fate was sealed.
How did they pull this off?
Running back Niles Jones, who had two of his three touchdowns to account for the team’s 13-point fourth-quarter run, chalked it up to persistence by his teammates.
In fact, not until Jones’ touchdown runs of 3 and 30 yards, each team traded scores — even special teams touchdowns.
Like when Earnhardt’s 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown made it a 25-17 game in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
Seconds later, Quadrese Teague, who earlier in the first quarter had a 87-yard score on a kickoff return, matched Earnhardt’s.
Tie game at 25-25.
That’s when the momentum went to the Thunder for good.
On the ensuing possession — Jones’ 3-yard touchdown — that put Mountain View (3-2 overall, 1-0 3A GSHL) up 32-25, kicker Justin Lufkin-Quant’s kickoff went about 15 yards, bounced off a Hudson’s Bay player and was recovered by Mitchell Delmage.
Thunder ball and Thunder momentum.
“That definitely riled our team up; our sideline was going crazy,” Jones said. “We were ready go out. That helped us set the tone and helped us get our offense back on the field.”
Three plays later, Jones’ 30-yard score made it a 38-25 lead — Mountain View’s largest of the game — with 6:35 to play.
For the Eagles (2-3, 1-1), correcting the small mistakes will come, but competing in the fourth quarter with a chance to win the game late is something first-year coach Ray Lions takes away most moving forward with Prairie on the horizon next week.
“We know this is an opportunity for us to play to our potential,” he said.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 38, HUDSON’S BAY 25
MV 6 6 13 13 – 38
HB 7 7 11 0 – 25
First quarter
MV – Jack Mertens 7 run (run failed)
HB – Quadrese Teague 87 kickoff return (Nick Campbell kick)
Second quarter
MV – Makai Anderson 45 pass from Glen Perry, Jr. (kick failed)
HB – Carter Morse 21 pass from Brian Perez (Campbell kick)
Third quarter
MV – Nile Jones 6 run (pass failed)
HB – Campbell 33 FG
MV – Philip Earnhardt 90 kickoff return (kick good)
HB – Teague 88 kickoff return (Akilotoa Kaumatule run)
Fourth quarter
MV – Jones 3 run (kick good)
MV – Jones 30 run (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Hudson’s Bay: Carter Morse 3-(minus-4), Akilotoa Kaumatule 3-18, Julio Vara 2-5, Brian Perez 3-minus-7), Marco Cadiz 6-25; Mountain View: Nile Jones 18-85, Jack Mertens 6-25, Michael Urruchua 4-16, Payton Regas 3-26, Glen Perry, Jr. 14-54
PASSING — Hudson’s Bay: Carter Morse 0-1-0-0; Brian Perez 13-26-1-122; Mountain View: Glen Perry, Jr. 8-20-0-122
RECEIVING — Miles Artis 4-30; Carter Morse 4-37; Julio Vara 3-6; Quadrese Teague 1-24; Marco Cadiz 1-25; Mountain View: Makai Anderson 3-93, Mitchell Delmage 3-34; Jack Mertens 1-1; Michael Bolds 1-1.
