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Roy • Mountain Crest dropped back into prevent defense and nearly prevented itself from winning, allowing Roy to connect on a deep crossing route and then the go-ahead score on the next play with 23.8 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Mustangs went from potentially owning an undefeated record to the third seed in region and a road playoff game in seconds. It was the ultimate collapse.

And then it wasn't.

After getting the kickoff, Mountain Crest quarterback Tanner Schwab maneuvered the pocket to his right and heaved a 45-yard Hail Mary that was caught by Dallas Niemann with time expired to give the Mustangs a miraculous 16-14 win to spoil the Royals' 50th homecoming on Friday night.

"I kind of lost it in the lights, but I knew it was going to come to me," Niemann said. "I can't believe I made it."

The pivotal Region 1 showdown was marred by anemic offenses and questionable coaching decisions on both sides until the final minute, including Mountain Crest's fourth-down blunder on Roy's 6-yard line late in the fourth quarter that it elected to attempt rather than kicking the field goal in a tie game.

"Our offense, I thought tonight was terrible," said Mustangs coach Mark Wootton. "We sputtered. Even though [Roy was] doing a good job stopping everything, our kids kept battling. Bubba Thompson ran his guts out. We're very fortunate we got that win."

Roy operated with favorable field position for the majority of the first half, particularly on the opening two drives. The Royals' first opportunity stalled with a three-and-out after Mountain Crest attempted an unsuccessful onside kick to begin the game, but the second go-around culminated with a 2-yard touchdown scamper by Matty Matautia after Coleby Stark connected with Brayden Sampson on a 39-yard seam route on 3rd-and-8.

The Mustangs countered with their own scoring drive fueled by Thompson and capped by Kort Fuller's 3-yard dive, evening the score at 7 at the 11:28 juncture in the second period. Mountain Crest preserved the deadlock into halftime with an interception at its own 7-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the half.

The Royals placed an emphasis in the aerial game — an area of weakness this season — with passes on early downs, including running three passes from trick formations. Roy failed to establish its trademark ground attack, instead resorting to bouncing outside the tackles, allowing Mountain Crest, which limited Roy to 5 yards on 14 carries in the first 16 minutes, to utilize its speed on the edges.

Mountain Crest marched deep into Royal territory on its opening drive in the second half, but Tyler Eteuati jumped Schwab's telegraphed pass at his own 7-yard line and returned it to midfield. Yet again the Mustangs clamped down defensively and forced a turnover on downs.

Late in the fourth quarter, after forgoing the field goal, Mountain Crest retained possession with 2:38 remaining in regulation. The Mustangs captured a three-point lead on Luis Guerra's 33-yard field goal with less than a minute on the board.

It appeared to be headed for the books, considering Roy's offensive struggles, until Stark hit Sampson on a 66-yard crossing route in the middle of the Mustangs' prevent zone. Baby Tee Eteuati found pay dirt on his 9-yard dash to the pylon on the next play, giving the Royals' the 14-10 lead.

"Everybody was kind of freaking out," Schwab said. "I was trying to get our offense because you never know what can happen. You saw BYU at Nebraska. We moved it down the field and gave ourselves a chance."

Schwab paused to release his emotions, screaming to the sky and shaking his head in disbelief.

"What an amazing catch."

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Storylines

R Mountain Crest remains undefeated thanks to Tanner Schwab's 45-yard pass to Dallas Niemann on the final play of regulation.

• Roy takes the lead with 23.8 seconds remaining after Mountain Crest allows a deep pass with a three-point lead.