STATE 1A FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS: Wallace wins another wild one, this time in OT

GENESEE – Junior Marley Pearce stopped Genesee quarterback Jackson Banks' two-point conversion attempt in overtime to give Wallace a 68-66 win in the quarterfinals of the state 1A playoffs Friday at Genesee High. 

Wallace quarterback Cooper Miller accounted for nine touchdowns, six through the air, two on the ground, and one receiving on a night when the Miners needed every drop of magic the sophomore had. 

Midway through the final frame, the Miners found themselves down two scores with time ticking. 

Miller connected with junior Henry Larson on a 30-yard score, then Wallace recovered an onside kick to set up Miller’s first rushing score with just under two minutes left that tied the game at 52.

"I haven't had a feeling like that in a long time," said Wallace coach Jared Young, whose team advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2009. "These boys came from down in the depths."

Wallace (9-2) will play Tri-Valley (8-2) of Cambridge next week in the semifinals, bidding for the program's first trip to the state championship game since advancing to the A-2 championship game in 1986. Tri-Valley beat Deary 82-32 at Bengal Field in Lewiston on Friday.

Genesee beat Wallace 22-18 on Oct. 3 at Sather Field in Silverton.

After Wallace's two quick scores, Genesee drove down and scored again, going up eight with 31 seconds remaining. 

Miller would connect with Larson again, this time on a 39-yard catch to set up Gus Scott's six-yard score with 12 seconds remaining in regulation. Miller and Scott also connected for the conversion to tie the game at 60. 

In overtime, Miller took the first play to the house from the 10, then hit Scott for the conversion. 

"We needed a few plays to go our way and they showed up," Young said. "Hats off to Genesee, they're a great team and ran the option really well tonight." 

Wallace beat Salmon River of Riggins 64-58 in the first round last week.

Wallace will be playing for its first trip to the state title game since 1986, when the Miners were in A-2.

Wallace        16    16    0    28    8    —    68 

Genesee    6    24    8    22    6    —    66 

First quarter 

Gen — Cameron Holmes 3 run (conversion failed) 

Wall — Henry Larson 50 pass from Cooper Miller (Miller run) 

Wall — Lennox Radford 5 pass from Miller (Larson pass from Miller) 

Second quarter  

Gen — Noah Bollman 4 run (conversion successful) 

Gen — Bollman 29 pass from Jackson Banks (conversion successful) 

Wall — L. Radford 34 pass from Miller (conversion successful) 

Gen — Bollman 55 pass from Banks (conversion successful) 

Wall — Larson 16 pass from Miller (conversion successful) 

Third quarter 

Gen — Bollman 10 pass from Holmes (conversion successful) 

Fourth quarter 

Gen — Holmes 8 run (conversion successful) 

Wall — Miller 35 pass from Miller (conversion failed) 

Gen — Bollman 9 run (conversion failed) 

Wall — Larson 30 pass from Miller (conversion successful) 

Wall — Miller 3 run (conversion failed) 

Gen — Banks 1 run (conversion successful) 

Wall — Gus Scott 6 pass from Miller (conversion successful) 

Overtime 

Wall — Miller 10 run (conversion successful) 

Gen — Bollman 10 run (conversion failed)