Joe Frederickson

After trailing for most of the game, Mounds View rallied to score two touchdowns in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, then scored each time it had the ball in the extra sessions to edge Stillwater for a wild 41-34 homecoming victory.

Mounds View tied the game in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Joe Frederickson to Tucker Gran with 31.5 seconds left.

“That play is called 88 Diablo,” Frederickson said. “When I looked at him, he was covered. But I thought I should just throw it up there and give him a chance to go get it.”

Gran, who joined the team late, made a leaping, twisting catch just inside the far pylon to pull the Mustangs even.

“He made a great play,” Frederickson said.

Stillwater scored in the first possession of overtime for a 34-27 lead, but Mounds view answered when Frederickson hit Ryan Kaczynski for a six-yard touchdown, evening the score at 34-34.

Mounds View got the first possession in the second overtime and fullback Matt Hunt scored the game-winner, plowing over from three-yards out.

Mounds View survived a tremendous performance from Stillwater running back Zach Knox, who rushed 48 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

But while Knox owned the evening, Mounds View stopped him when it had to. Knox managed just eight yards on three carries from the 10-yard-line in the second overtime before a fourth-down Stillwater pass fell incomplete, giving the Mustangs the victory.

Key of the game: Up 27-13 with less than seven minutes to go, Stillwater chose to pass twice instead of running the ball and using up the clock. Both passes fell incomplete. Mounds View got the ball back with 5:53 left in the game, enough time for the Mustangs to rally.

Quote: “These guys just never get down on themselves,” said Mounds View coach Jim Galvin. “They keep battling and always believe they can win. I’m just so happy for the kids.”

One thing to know: Mounds View alternated quarterbacks Chance Carnahan and Fredrickson on successive possessions. But Fredrickson had the hot hand at the end and played Mounds View’s final four series, including both overtimes.