Longhorns' season ends with loss to White Pine in 2A semifinals Battle Mountain finishes season at 7-4

BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The Battle Mountain High School football team overcame a slow start in the first quarter, but it was not enough as White Pine came back to win 28-19 Friday night in Ely in a NIAA 2A state semifinal.

"It was just a frustrating night," said BMHS head coach Tim Knight. "We just had key turnovers and penalties at the wrong time. I felt we were snake bit all night and I was hoping to get a break, since we dominated the game on both sides of the ball."

The Bobcats, who entered the game at 10-0, had won nine of their 10 games by double digits, with the other being a 31-30 win over The Meadows. The Longhorns (7-4) trailed 21-19 with three minutes to play but White Pine converted a touchdown on fourth and goal from the 20-yard line to seal the victory.

The Bobcats (11-0) gained all the momentum in the opening minutes of the night, which included a safety for the first points of the game.

The Longhorns committed two turnovers on their first three plays of the game. A Battle Mountain interception of White Pine near the goal line led to the safety. The Longhorns picked off the pass at the 1-yard line and the momentum of the play went in to the end zone but the officials ruled the ball inside the 1-yard line. Just a couple of plays later the Bobcats picked up the safety.

White Pine's special teams came up big later in the quarter, as Josh Groben picked up a blocked punt and ran into the end zone for a 27-yard score and an 8-0 advantage after the missed extra point.

Battle Mountain regrouped on its next drive and cut into the deficit 8-7, on a 1-yard run by Hank Filippini and Ryan Salazar's extra point. The Longhorns then took the lead in the second quarter on an 11-yard pass from Daniel Itza to Kyle Bryant. Battle Mountain missed the extra point, leaving the lead at 13-8.

White Pine took the lead for good with 17 seconds left in the first half, as Josh Ashby scored on a 1-yard run for a 14-13 advantage, after the missed two-point conversion. The Bobcats had another short field to work with after a Longhorn fumble and used the short field to its advantage.

Ashby helped build the lead in the third quarter, as he connected with Levi Valdez for a 30-yard touchdown and a 21-13 lead after the made two-point conversion by Jake Johnson.

Battle Mountain kept its season alive late in the third quarter, as Itza hit Filippini for a 50-yard touchdown to close the gap to 21-19. The Longhorns attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game but were unsuccessful.

"Hank had one of his best games of the season," Knight said. "He was the key to our running game. We went to our power running game in the second half and moved the ball. But turnovers and penalties hurt us."

White Pine sealed the victory with three minutes to play, as Ashby hooked up with Valdez for the second time on the night, this time from 20 yards out. Johnson made it a nine-point margin and a two-possession game with the extra point.

"That was what kind of night it was," added the coach. "We could not catch a break all night. They completed just nine passes but it was for 200 yards."

White Pine will play Pershing County Saturday at 3 p.m., for the 2A State Championship at Damonte Ranch High School in Reno.

"I am still tickled about our season," Knight said. "We came a long way from where we started the season. We were just a few plays from being in the state championship. We lose some key guys but we have a good group coming back. I see us starting off from where we left off this year."

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