When the Juanita defense needed it most, they got it, twice. The Rebels survived two fourth-and-goal runs from Interlake after an inadvertent whistle on the first, and escaped Bergh Field with a 35-28 overtime victory over the 2A playoff bound Saints.

An incomplete pass on third down set up the first of two plunges from all-purpose dynamo Jordan Todd, who neared the goal line in a pile of defenders and blockers before the side judge inexplicably blew his whistle while the scrum was still being decided inside the one yard line.

The Juanita defense and sideline believed the game was over until officials came together and ruled the inadvertent whistle, meaning the ball would be re-spotted and the down played again. Todd took the snap directly before again fighting into the teeth of the Rebels’ defense and again being denied, this time officially.

“You can’t practice situations like that,” Juanita coach Shaun Tarantola said. “Coaches and players just have to remain composed. It’s nice to execute in that kind of situation.”

Things didn’t begin nearly as well as they ended for Tarantola’s Rebels, which punted on the first drive of the game before Todd galloped 83 yards to his first score of the night two plays later. Another punt and another Todd score, this time from a yard out, made it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and had Interlake looking every bit the part of the top-seeded playoff team.

“Hopefully, they learn that no matter the score, we’ve got to focus on our execution,” Interlake coach Jason Rimkus said. “They’re really upset at themselves.”

Juanita rebounded with a 10 play drive that included only one pass and was capped by a one yard touchdown run from junior Cody Otterholt, who scored again to finish a 13 play, 80-yard touchdown drive followed that to knot things up at the half.

The Saints seemed to poised to retake control to begin the second half, mounting a 13 play, 80-yard drive of their own, but failed to cash in when a fourth down snap went awry resulting in a turnover on downs.

Juanita took its first lead of the night on the ensuing drive on a 20-yard scoring run from junior Trayon Mcnairy, but it was short lived as Todd exploded through a hole and ended up in the endzone with a 99 yard score on the ensuing kickoff. He finished with nearly 300 yards of all-purpose yardage and three touchdowns.

Travis Marshall answered that score with one of his own from 71 yards away to give his team a lead it would hold until the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Juanita, attempting to punt from its own territory, turned the ball over on downs when the punter fielded a low snap with his knee touching the ground, giving the Saints the ball at the Rebels’ 40 yard line.

Interlake quarterback Kamana Adriano orchestrated a two play scoring drive, which he finished with a 32-yard touchdown to Evan Turman, who outreached two Rebels’ defenders in the endzone for the game-tying score with only 38 seconds remaining in regulation. (pictured at left, contributed photo, Steven Levi)

After Mcnairy scored his second touchdown of the night from 14 yards out on the first possession of the overtime, the stage was set for the game-ending goal line stand.

“We’ve really been growing as a team,” Tarantola said. “This league is very tough and it’s good to end on a high note.”

Juanita will finish the season at home next week against Blanchet.

The Saints, who were already locked into one of the three playoff berths from the 2A Seamount League before tonight’s game, now know they will be the second seed and face White River (Buckley) a week ten match up for a spot in the state playoffs.

“We’ll regroup,” Rimkus said. “We have a great senior class that will make sure we get back on track.”

Game notes

Tarantola rotated sophomore Landyn Milburn and junior Riley Hilliker at quarterback…they combined to throw only nine passes, completing six, and no rushes…there were no turnovers by either team in the game…Todd carried 20 times and caught one pass…Adriano finished 10-19 passing with the one touchdown…