Ben Rembisz’s 23-yard field goal with 9 seconds to play, lifted the La Center Wildcats to an improbable 26-25 come-from-behind non-league football victory at Mount Baker on Saturday.
The Wildcats (5-1) trailed 25-0 with 6:57 to play in the third quarter and roared back in the second half with the help of two onside kick recoveries.
After Jalen Ward’s 65-yard run got the Wildcats on the board, La Center recovered an onside kick that bounced off a Mount Baker player. The ensuing drive led to a 21-yard field goal by Rembisz and it was 25-10 going into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats kept clawing back as Tru Feldman scored on a 6-yard run, but the 2-point try failed, so Mount Baker led 25-16 with 3:33 remaining.
With Mount Baker driving, La Center’s Adam White stripped the ball away and ran 75 yards for a TD and suddenly it was 25-23 with 54 seconds to go.
Again, Mount Baker couldn’t handle the onside kick and La Center recovered.
Levi Giles caught a pass for a first down with 20 seconds to play, and Feldman ran the ball down to the 6-yard line with 12 seconds on the clock to set up Rembisz’s go-ahead field-goal try, which split the uprights to give the Wildcats their first — and only — lead of the game.
LA CENTER 26, MOUNT BAKER 25
La Center 0 0 10 16—26
Mount Baker 6 13 6 0—25
First quarter
MB — Marcques George 38 run (kick failed)
Second quarter
MB — Landon Hansted 53 pass from Landon Smith (kick failed)
MB — Hansted 15 pass from Smith (kick good)
Third quarter
MB — William Maloley 5 run (kick failed)
LC — Jalen Ward 65 run (Ben Rembisz kick)
LC — Rembisz 21 FG
Fourth quarter
LC — Tru Feldman 6 run (2-pt try failed)
LC — Adam White 75 fumble return (Rembisz kick)
LC — Rembisz 23 FG
