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STEPHENSON -- The Stephenson Eagles got the break they needed on the final play of the game here Thursday night as they hung on for a 40-38 eight-player football triumph over Niagara, Wis.
Niagara had the ball on the Eagles' four-yard line as the final seconds ticked away in this non-conference contest.
The Badgers, however, fumbled away their final opportunity and Eagles' senior Brock Bergquist came up with the ball as time expired.
"Parker (Beal) grabbed the ball," he said. "He's the one who did all the work. I just came up with it. I was just in the right place at the right time. The last couple minutes felt like an eternity. As time ran out I was thinking to myself, 'oh finally.'"
Sophomore Evan Ruleau scored the game-winner on a 31-yard pass from his older brother, senior quarterback Nolan Ruleau, giving Stephenson its final two-point edge with 44.3 seconds left to play.
"It was close right to the end," Eagles' coach Logan Carlson said. "We haven't been in a game like this for quite a while. We haven't had a team fight fight to the end like that for quite a while. It was fun, but it was crazy. It's also huge for us."
This marked the first football match-up between the schools which was lined up early Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles were scheduled to host Rock Mid Peninsula and the Badger set to face Florence, Wis.
Mid Pen and Florence, however, didn't have enough available players to field teams this weekend.
"We really didn't know what to expect," Carlson said. "We had never played them before. We watched what little film we had on them and tried to develop a game plan on what we had. We knew they were going to be fast. Their quarterback was pretty fast and Nolan is a great kid who likes to play football. Both are good quarterbacks."
Stephenson appeared to be in control when Nolan Ruleau scored on a 21-yard keeper on the right side for a 28-14 advantage with 34 seconds remaining in the third stanza.
Niagara, however, had different ideas.
Senior QB Sawyer Rouse threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to junior Landon Sweig, bringing the Badgers within 28-22 early in the fourth.
The Badgers then took a 30-28 lead on their next possession when senior running back Owen Dunkes scored on a 26-yard run with 7:33 remaining.
Stephenson regained the lead on Nolan Ruleau's 77-yard bomb to senior Brock Motto for a 34-30 lead with 2:34 left in the contest.
Niagara answered just 45 seconds later, taking a 38-34 lead on a 41-yard run by Dunkes and setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
The Badgers scored first on a 26-yard pass from Rouse to Dunkes midway through the first quarter.
Nolan Ruleau tied the score at six with 3:51 left in the opening frame when he broke off left tackle and dashed 76 yards for a TD.
Niagara gained a 14-6 lead on a one-yard run up the middle by Rouse 34 seconds into the second stanza.
Stephenson tied the score at 14 just 19 seconds later on Nolan Ruleau's 58-yard aerial to Evan Ruleau.
The Eagles, who dropped four passes on their last possession before halftime, needed just four plays to cover 56 yards on their first drive in the third stanza.
Nolan Ruleau tossed a 13-yard pass through the middle to sophomore Robert Labs for a 20-14 lead at 10:13.
Stephenson finished with 386 yards in total offense, including 191 on the ground
Nolan Ruleau rushed 16 times for 178 yards and threw for 205. Evan Ruleau caught six aerials for 161.
"It was a great battle and a great game to watch, but our defense gave up too many big plays and we got stopped twice inside the 10-yard line," Niagara coach Ben Laarman said. "Although, we definitely played well offensively. This was probably our best game so far."
Niagara collected 420 yards, including 220 through the air. Dunkes caught three passes for 117 and ran 24 times for 136 yards.
The Eagles (2-0) travel to Ishpeming Sept. 12. The Badgers are trying to line up a contest with Rib Lake, Wis. this weekend.