MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School Chiefs took on the Sunnyside High School Grizzlies on Friday in a tight matchup that had spectators on their toes until the last seconds of the game.

The Chiefs and Grizzlies are two formidable contenders in the Big 9 Athletic Conference this year. Going into the game, the Chiefs were 2-0 in the conference and Sunnyside was 3-0.

“The foundation was here; we just changed a couple schematics and philosophy and we’re off to a good start,” said Moses Lake head coach Brett Jay, referring to the legacy left by previous coaches.

The first half of the game was pretty evenly matched with both teams’ defenses pushing each other back each time things seemed to get close to one end of the field. It wasn’t until the second quarter each of the teams finally saw the endzone, with each scoring a touchdown and only the Chiefs making the extra kick. At the end of the first half, the Chiefs led 7-6.

The Grizzlies used the third quarter to take a lead on the Chiefs, scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Chiefs were not able to get any ground in the endzone, bringing the score at the end of the third quarter to 7 for the Chiefs and 14 for the Grizzlies.

The last quarter was when things really started heating up. An exciting 62-yard punt by Moses Lake’s Sergio Guzman began the drive to be seen in the final quarter, but there was no return on the play.

Guzman then made a touchdown with seven minutes left in the game. A two-point conversion to Jackson Purcell was successful, bringing the Chiefs ahead by one point, 15-14.

Sunnyside didn’t give up and scored a touchdown with three minutes, 43 seconds left on the clock, and completed a two-point conversion. The score was 22-15, and the Grizzlies thought the game was in the bag.

Moses Lake worked its way toward the end zone when at around two minutes, 30 seconds left on the clock, a Sunnyside player intercepted a throw and made it all the way to the endzone. Moses Lake players and fans were shocked. But right when it seemed like that play may have cost Moses Lake the game, the referees declared the interception and resulting touchdown did not count due to Sunnyside roughing the passer. The Moses Lake student section also was chanting “You can’t do that!” The penalty resulted in the Chiefs having a first down at the 16-yard line.

Guzman rushed during the next play and the Chiefs were on the 1-yard line with one minute, 22 seconds left on the clock.

It was clear: It was now or never for the Chiefs to win the game. The Chiefs ran the clock down to one minute, two seconds and called a timeout. The team tried to score, but Sunnyside’s defense kept the Chiefs out. The Chiefs ran the clock down to 26 seconds and called another timeout. And yet again Sunnyside prevented a score.

With less than 15 seconds left on the clock and the ball half a yard from the line, the Chiefs would need just one good push to make a touchdown.

Brock Clark made the touchdown, bringing Moses Lake within one point with 11 seconds left. It could kick for one point and tie the game and go into overtime or attempt a two-point conversion to take the game by one.

Sunnyside decided to call a timeout to strategize. It was down to the wire, and it was clear neither team was backing down.

“We’re here to win; we’re not here to tie. We believe in our guys,” Jay said. “We saw a formation and play that we liked, so we were saving it for that opportunity if we got to it.”

The two-point conversion by the Chiefs was successful, bringing the score to 23-22.

But there was still time for a final play by the Grizzlies and they were not going to let it go. In the final push, they were unable to get further than the 50-yard line and a player was even ejected by the referees in the final seconds. It was unclear what the ejection was for.

The final score of the game was 23-22.

“Coach Bertholf and our defensive staff did a fantastic job of building our game plan and executing it,” Jay said.

He also said he wanted to highlight the resilience of the program and the “never give up” mentality the players showed by playing each play like they were supposed to without getting discouraged.

With the victory over Sunnyside, the Chiefs have an overall record of 4-3 and 3-0 in the league. While the Chiefs’ league record wins are now the same as Sunnyside’s, the Chiefs victory over Sunnyside raises its standing in the Big 9 above Sunnyside.

“Hats off to Sunnyside, those are dynamic athletes,” Jay said. “As dynamic as anyone in our conference; I was proud of our defense for containing them all night.”

The Chiefs only have three regular season games left. It will take on Davis on Friday.

“We’re just getting started; we have a long way to go and we didn’t play to our potential tonight,” Jay said, referring to five drives made by the Chiefs in the first half but only scoring in one of those drives.