The round two playoff game between Ralston Valley and Eaglecrest was a battle to the end, with both teams hitting back and forth.

Eaglecrest struck quick in the first quarter taking a 7-0 lead over the Mustangs after they methodically stormed down the field and powered their way into the end zone.

The Mustangs with their notorious power running game, hit right back at the Raptors with a 46 yard touchdown run by star Andrew Wingard.

That was the name of the game for most the night, as both teams offense seemed unstoppable as they picked apart the other defense as they charged down the field on each possession.

At half the teams went in tied 34-34 after a late run by Elijah Ross who commanded the Eaglecrest Raptors all night, rushing for 4 touchdowns, throwing 1, and handing one off.

The Mustangs got the ball to start the second half and on that possession and the following one the Eaglecrest defense came through holding Ralston Valley to two 3 and outs. By the end of the third quarter Eaglecrest held a 40-34 lead until Kyle Rush (Jr.) surged into the end zone on a fancy 15 yard run tying the game, and a point after giving the Mustangs a precarious 1 point lead.

The Mustangs figured they had the game when the defense came up big after forcing a turnover with Eaglecrest nipping at their heels inside the 10 yard line. A 46 yard run by Kyle Rush put the Mustang offense in plus territory with 3:43 left in the game.

On the next play, senior Noah Wells rushed up the middle, and took a big hit and the ball came loose–with Eaglecrest recovering.

The Raptors drove down the field, making big plays on long 3rd downs, and had the ball on the Mustang 2 yard line with 40 seconds left, and facing a 4th and inches.

After a controversial call following a loose ball, the officials called the runner as down. The Raptors decided against risking the game by going for it on 4th, they sent out the field goal unit, and sunk the kick to take a 2 point lead 43-41.

With 38 seconds left, the game seemed done, but the Ralston Valley coaches and players were having none of that, and three determined runs by the talented Mustangs running backs drove the ball down to the Eaglecrest 39 yard line.

With no timeouts, RV spiked the ball, leaving 3.3 seconds on the clock, and one option. A 56 yard field goal.

Eaglecrest head coach Mike Schmitt told The Denver Post that he believed the odds of Collin Root making the kick was “1 percent.”

But with the wind at his back and determination to not fall to the long curse of losing in Legacy Stadium once more, Root made the 56 yard field goal to secure a Mustang victory and extend the season one more week.

Ralston Valley head coach Matt Loyd was just as struck as everyone else.

“It was unbelievable. It was pretty exciting for our guys. We’ve actually been out there three times before, and lost heartbreakers, so we were able to win that one.”

With that thrilling round two victory behind them, Ralston Valley now looks to round 3, where they will host No. 2 seed Fairview who is also undefeated.