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Millville • The Stansbury Stallions capped a four-hour round trip with a wild 30-24 victory over host Ridgeline on Friday night, to seize control of the 3AA North region with three games to go in the regular season.

Matthew McIntyre's 65-yard throwback pass from brother Mitchell to McCoy Diderickson was the highlight-reel response to a Ridgeline fourth-quarter rally. Diderickson was tackled at the Riverhawks' one-yard line, but the play led to a 22-yard field goal and a 30-17 lead with 5:30 left in the game.

Two Payton Thomas touchdown passes in the waning minutes brought the Riverhawks to within a touchdown in the final minute.

Stansbury took an insurmountable third quarter lead thanks to two second-quarter touchdowns on momentum-swinging plays.

"There were a lot of big plays out there," said Stansbury coach Clint Christiansen. "Every time our backs were up against the wall, we got a big play. That's what you have to do against teams like this, a good football team. We're lucky to win that game.

"I'm so proud of this group of kids and they're going to keep fighting, no matter what."

After both teams traded field goals early, the Stallions drove to the Riverhawks' 25-yard line, where their impressive drive appeared to stall. On fourth-and-4, quarterback Mitchell McIntyre rolled out to his right and lofted a perfect pass into the path of receiver TJ Thomsen for the go-ahead score.

Thomsen was inserted into the game prior to the play call and he beat the Ridgeline secondary.

On the Riverhawks' ensuing drive, the Stallions defense stood tall, forcing the punt. From his own 40 yard line, Theron Wallentine took the long snap and wound up, only to see Stansbury lineman Sitiveni Havili's full extension rush reject the punt.

Havili — a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior — picked up the bouncing ball at the 35-yard line and raced into the end zone, giving Stansbury a 17-3 lead with 4:02 left in the half.

The big plays continued into the second half, as both teams got into the act.

Riverhawks quarterback Payton Thomas found receiver Cody Olsen for a 64-yard score early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to seven.

At the 2:15 mark of the third quarter, Casey Roberts' 60-yard punt return set up his own 25-yard field goal to give Stansbury a 20-10 advantage.

With 11:14 left in the game, Stallions linebacker Tavita Gaagnier picked off a deflected Thomas pass at the Ridgeline 38. Two plays later, McIntyre raced 35 yards for a touchdown for a 27-10 Stansbury lead.

The throwback pass from the McIntyres to Diderickson gave Stansbury breathing room, but Ridgeline (4-3) wasn't done.

Ridgeline responded as Olsen took a 30-yard swing pass to the end zone with 9:17 left. With 1:34 left, Thomas found Olsen again for a 44-yard score to bring the score to 30-24.

Stansbury (6-1) recovered the onside kick to preserve the win. —

Storylines

• Stansbury takes control of the title race in the 3AA North with a 30-24 victory over host Ridgeline, a school in its first year of existence.

• Two second-quarter touchdowns give Stansbury an insurmountable lead, as TJ Thomsen's touchdown reception on fourth down precedes Sitiveni Havili's blocked punt return for a touchdown.

• Ridgeline quarterback Payton Thomas and receiver Cody Olsen connect twice for second-half touchdown passes, and Stansbury needs to recover a final minute onside kick.