Timberwolves score with 27 seconds left to claim the non-league victory
VANCOUVER — Just call them clutch.
The Heritage Timberwolves went 63 yards in the closing minutes of their game Friday night, scoring a touchdown with 27 seconds left to open the 2018 high school football season with a victory.
Kahai Umiamaka caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Nikki Scott, giving Heritage a 21-17 victory over Evergreen at McKenzie Stadium.
This was a game featuring two teams that went 4-5 last year, both teams looking for their first winning seasons this decade.
Heritage got the first step toward that goal, making it happen after Evergreen had scored 17 consecutive points to take the lead.
Eli Del-Angel was true on a 24-yard field goal with 3:12 left in the game to give the Plainsmen a three-point lead.
Heritage then went to work.
Anthony Kee caught a tipped pass — a near interception — and picked up 14 yards to get the Timberwolves heading in the right direction.
Umiamaka followed with a 21-yard reception. A penalty added five yards to the play.
From there, Kee ran the ball on four consecutive plays, getting Heritage to the 9-yard line.
After a timeout, Scott threw his second touchdown pass of the game.
Evergreen did get to the Heritage 40-yard line with 14 seconds left in the game. Heritage’s Orlando Patino-Gonzalez intercepted a deep pass to secure the win.
Scott opened his career with a 94-yard touchdown bomb to Daniel Barrera for a 7-0 Heritage lead in the first quarter.
The Timberwolves made it 14-0 when Skyler Scoggins connected with Andrew Thom for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Evergreen responded. Eli Vaa-leiataua scored on a 44-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He added a 4-yard touchdown late in the first half. Vaa-leiataua finished the game with 184 yards on 22 carries.
The Plainsmen used 11 plays to go 60 yards to the 7-yard line. Del-Angel connected on the field goal for the lead, the lead that would not last long.
Scott threw for 271 yards in his debut, the last nine yards giving the Timberwolves a thrilling win in Week 1.
Heritage takes the lead with 27 seconds left in the game.@HeritageFB pic.twitter.com/JTvCsOobWk
— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) September 1, 2018
TIMBERWOLVES 21, PLAINSMEN 17
EVERGREEN 0 14 0 3 — 17
HERITAGE 7 7 0 7 — 21
1st quarter
Heritage — Daniel Barrera 94 pass from Nikki Scott (Israel Gonzalez kick)
2nd quarter
Heritage — Andrew Thom 5 pass from Skyler Scoggins (Gonzalez kick)
Evergreen — Eli Vaa-leiataua 44 run (Eli Del-Angel kick)
Evergreen — Vaa-leiataua 4 run (Del-Angel kick)
4th quarter
Evergreen — Del Angel 24 FG
Heritage — Kahai Umiamaka 9 pass from Scott (Gonzalez kick)
