The Battle Mountain High School football team was looking for the same kind of magic that it had last year in the NIAA 2A State Semifinals in Needles, Calif., this past Saturday afternoon.
The Longhorns knocked off the Mustangs last year in overtime and were looking to make a second consecutive trip to the 2A state title game this year.
Battle Mountain got off to a quick start with a 70-yard touchdown run by Cody Ostler to take a 7-0 lead three minutes into the contest, but it was all Needles after that.
The Mustangs reeled off the next 26 points and went on to win 48-27, ending the Longhorns’ season.
"The kids played hard the whole game," said BMHS coach Mitch Domagala. "Their effort level was the highest I've seen it all season."
Needles answered back three minutes later, with one if its three first-quarter touchdowns. The Mustangs converted the 2-point conversion to lead 8-7 and they did not trail again on the day.
Needles added a second touchdown two minutes later to lead 14-7 after the missed conversion and the Mustangs went in front 20-7 on a 39-yard touchdown run after Battle Mountain turned the ball over on downs.
Battle Mountain looked poised to cut the deficit to single digits early in the second quarter but a pass was intercepted inside the Needles’ 10-yard line to stop the drive.
After the teams traded a handful of punts, Needles added to its lead with less than a minute left in the half on a 1-yard run to make the score 26-7 after the missed conversion.
Battle Mountain caught an early break at the start of the third quarter and scored three minutes into the second half on a run by Ostler and they converted the 2-point conversion to trail 26-15.
The momentum did not last, as Needles took nearly six minutes off its next possession and scored on a 15-yard pass play to go back in front 32-15.
Battle Mountain cut the lead to 11 points at 32-21 after a touchdown pass on a touchdown pass from DJ Martinez to Terrence Fetterly but that was as close as the Longhorns got the rest of the day.
Martinez was 13-of-26 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
"This was a slugfest all the way through," Domagala said. "They made some big plays, but so did we."
Needles scored a minute into the fourth quarter and added the 2-point conversion to lead 40-21.
The Mustangs intercepted another Battle Mountain pass on the next drive but could not capitalize on the miscue and turned the ball over on downs.
Battle Mountain took the next possession and scored on a rushing touchdown by Ostler to cut the lead to 40-27 with four minutes to play. However, the Mustangs added a final touchdown in the closing minutes to hold on for the victory.
Ostler finished the day with three touchdowns and 193 yards on 13 carries.
Kade Quintana had six catches for 23 yards and Marcus Jury caught four passes for 56 yards.
Battle Mountain finished the year at 9-3 overall and 7-1 in the Northern 2A.
"I proud of the fight the kids showed," Domagala said. "They kept playing hard until the last whistle."
