Just short

ANCHORAGE -- One yard -- all that separated the Colony Knights and the 4A state championship game.

East defensive linemen Joe Lyman and Danny Suesue stuffed Colony fullback David Craig at the 1-yard line on fourth and goal in overtime to preserve a 42-35 Thunderbird win during the semifinal round of the state football playoffs at Anchorage Football Stadium in Anchorage.

Though only East will move on to play Juneau in the state championship game, both teams made history on Saturday, playing in the first overtime game in the history of the Alaska state football playoffs.

Saturday's contest for Colony was much like its season, a roller coaster ride. The Knights quickly fell behind 7-0, but led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter and 21-14 at the half. East tied the game at 21-21 and 28-28 in the second half.

With just 3 minutes and 15 seconds left in regulation, East tailback Ryan Stickler scored from two yards out to give the Thunderbirds the 35-28 lead.

East had the advantage, but left too much time on the clock.

Colony quarterback Rhett Magner capped off an eight-play, 67-yard Knight drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Van Sant with just 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35-35.

An East rouging the passer penalty set the Knights up with a first down situation at the 21-yard line.

After a crucial block in the backfield from running back Shawn Olivera, Magner was able to roll to his right and find Van Sant sitting in loose coverage near the end zone. Van Sant caught the pass, shifted past an East defensive back and forced the game into overtime.

Alaska uses the Kansas system to decide the outcome of overtime games. Each team gets the ball at the 10-yard line with four downs to score.

East made the most of its opportunity handing the ball off to Stickler. After gains of seven and two yards on first and second downs, Stickler plunged in the end zone from one yard out to give the T-Birds the 42-35 lead.

Colony's overtime offensive possession started with a 1-yard Olivera run. Magner scurried seven yards on second down and on third down, the junior signal caller tried to go through the center of the pile.

On fourth down, Magner handed to Craig who was immediately greeted by a host of T-Birds at the line of scrimmage.

"I thought we played as well as we could have played," Colony head coach Randy Magner said. "I am extremely pleased with our effort. We held on and I am pleased with that."

East jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after quarterback Derek Laws connected with wide receiver Casey Flair.

The Laws-Flair combination is arguably the most feared of the state. The duo have numerous state records between them and hooked up eight times for 117 yards and two touchdowns against the Knights.

Colony did prove that Laws and Flair is not the only potent quarterback-wide receiver combination in the state. Three plays after the Flair touchdown catch, Justin Schwartzbauer caught a 69-yard Magner touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.

Just more than three minutes later as East was driving deep into Knight territory, Schwartzbauer intercepted a Laws pass and scampered 90 yards for the score. Schwartzbauer stepped ahead of a streaking East receiver and picked off the badly thrown ball and ran untouched to the end zone to give the Knights the lead.

Colony took a 21-7 lead on a 27-yard Billy Collins touchdown. Collins followed a block by pulling guard Rob Ray on an inside counter, sprung to the outside and outran a pair of East defenders to the end zone.

Stickler scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half and Laws added a 5-yard touchdown run as the Thunderbirds stormed back into the game.

Craig posted a 1-yard touchdown run for Colony in the second half.

Magner led the Knights with 132 yards passing and 80 yards rushing in the game.

The junior saw time at running back in addition to quarterback. In the second half Colony brought in reserve quarterback Clay Gangstad and moved the playmaking Magner to tailback.

Stickler led the T-Birds with 154 yards and three touchdowns.