Both teams experienced the full gambit of emotions on Friday, Sept. 23, when the undeafeated Montevideo Thunderhawks traveled to Albany to face the Huskies, who were also unbeaten.

The visitors jumped out to an early 21 point lead in the first quarter and things looked like they could get out of hand quickly.

That lead was squandered in the second quarter as Albany posted 28 unanswered points. It was high times in the Albany locker room at the half as the Montevideo players solemnly knelt on the field awaiting the second half.

"It was a mental letdown," said coach Dave Vik.

The Thunderhawks were trailing 21 points in the fouth quarter, the same deficit they led by in the early stages of the game. Their fate was squarely on the shoulders of senior quarterback Brett Bergeson who kept his composure and went about his business.

"We could have folded, but we didn't," said Vik. "We kept hammering and hammering."

The play of the game came when Bergeson tossed a ball down the middle of the field to senior wide receiver Kyle Tebeest, who ripped the ball away from a defender for a 49-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. That score brought the Thunderhawks within one point.

"I was just in awe," Vik said.

Bergeson downplayed it. "I figured, what's another pass? I just had to drive my team down and score."

Vik decided to forego the extra point to tie and attempt a two-point conversion to give them the late lead. The attempt failed.

The late-game heroics looked to be all-for-not until an Albany fumble gave the ball back to Montevideo.

Bergeson and the Thunderhawk offense were able to reach the endzone and take the lead with under one minute to play.

Pandamonium ensued on the Montevideo sideline, while the home team looked on in shock.

"It's probably the best win I've been a part of." Bergeson said. "The whole team never giving up, it's unbelievable we came out with a win, I don't even know what to say about it."

Emotions were running high among players, fans and coaches.

"I knew that if we had the ball with time left that we had a chance to win the game," Vik said. "I've never been a part of anything like this, I want to cry."

The 4-0 Montevideo Thunderhawks will visit winless Minnewaska Area on Friday, Sept. 30

 -- Eric Thorson, MN Football Hub Staff

To say Montevideo's 56-49 triumph over Albany on Friday, Sept. 23, was exciting would be an understatement.

Each team rallied from three-touchdown deficits, a quarterback threw for more than 500 yards and three different players rushing for more than 100 yards.

After blowing a 21-0 lead and trailing 49-28 late in the game, Montevideo went on an epic run that would eventually topple the Huskies.

Thunderhawks quarterback Brett Bergeson hooked up with lanky receiver Colton Vien three times in the first quarter for a comfortable early lead.

But Albany answered with four rushing touchdowns in the second half to regain the lead before halftime. Huskies quarterback Tony Harlander and running back Aaron Eiynk each earned two trips into the end zone to put Albany back in control.

Montevideo scored a quick touchdown in the third quarter, with Bergeson finding running back Jake Douglas in the end zone.

Albany would grind out the rest of the quarter and add two more rushing touchdowns in the quarter, one each by Eiynk and Travis Sand.

Seconds into the fourth, Albany added another touchdown. Jeremy Klein found the end zone on a 15 yard run to the outside.

Over the next three minutes, Montevideo's Bergeson willed his team back to within a touchdown of the Huskies. With under two minutes in the game, Bergeson found running back Kyle TeBeest for a 49-yard touchdown to trim the Albany lead to one at 49-48.

The Thunderhawks failed their two point conversion on a dropped pass in the corner of the end zone.

Albany recovered the onside kick attempt, but fumbled the ball away two plays later to swing momentum back to Montevideo.

Bergeson wasted no time, hooking up with Joe Bednar on a 45-yard completion that would put the Thunderhawks inside the five-yard line.

On the next play, Jake Douglas scampered into the end zone to put Montevideo up by five. A successful two-point conversion to Colton Vien put the Thunderhawks up 56-49.

With only 27 seconds remaining, the Huskies attempted a Hail Mary pass that was intercepted by Douglas, who had scored the go-ahead touchdown.

Thunderhawks quarterback Brett Bergeson completed 25-of-41 passes for 504 yards and seven touchdowns. Colton Vien had nine receptions for 134 yards and four touchdowns. Joe Bednar racked up 217 yards on eight receptions.

Top Montevideo rusher, Jake Douglas, had 162 all-purpose yards and one touchdown.

In a losing effort, Albany running backs rushed for 391 yards and seven touchdowns. Travis Sand piled up 171 yards, one touchdown, and one costly fumble. Aaron Eiynk had 111 rushing yards with three touchdowns.

-- Jake Lunemann, MN Football Hub Staff

1. Brett Bergeson, Montevideo
This senior quarterback put up video game numbers, as he had 25 completions for 504 yards and seven touchdowns with a .610 completion percentage to boot. Bergeson maintained his composure on the road and rallied his team to victory after trailing 21-0 in the first quarter.

2. Colton Vien, Montevideo
Vien was Bergeson's favorite target during the offensive explsion. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver caught nine balls for 134 yards and four touchdowns. He managed to get open across the middle as well as use his massive frame to win jump balls thrown his way. His reliable hands were a huge factor in the Thunderhawk victory.

3. Travis Sand, Albany
Sand wasn't the biggest man on the field, but he very well may have been the fastest. He ran for 171 yards and a touchdown in the run-heavy Husky offense. His speed allowed him to get to the sideline for big yardage. Ball security proved to be an issue as he turned it over late in the game, fueling Montevideo's comeback.

-- Eric Thorson, MN Football Hub Staff