(Moon Valley celebrates after running back Kaylan Elzy (No. 24) scores a final minute touchdown. Photo by Kevin French/maxpreps.com)

Friday the 13th brought many suspenseful events when the Moon Valley Rockets conquered the Greenway Demons, 43-42, on the road.

From the start, Moon Valley and Greenway revealed that this rivalry would not go down without a fight.

Within the first four minutes of the game Greenway swept through the Moon Valley defense, scoring a 19-yard touchdown. It wasn’t long before the Rockets shot back against the Demons.

Moon Valley quarterback Isaiah Southwick completed a pass to junior running back Kaylan Elzy, tying the game 7-7.

Moon Valley’s offense was inconsistent during the first quarter of the game, when Southwick hesitated with his passing, leading to a Greenway touchdown. The game became more nerve-wracking for Moon Valley as the first half of the game progressed.

Greenway quarterback Tyler Duncan entered the Rockets red zone and scored a rushing touchdown, leaving the score at 29-21 at the end of the second quarter.

Entering the locker room before the second half, Moon Valley coach Seth Millican said that he did not know what to expect.

“Honestly, I was freaking out, but I walked into that locker room and about 10 players said to me, ‘We got this coach. Don’t worry. We got you,’” Millican said.

The Moon Valley players held true to their word by starting off the second half of with an immediate touchdown. Running back Liarry Cox broke free for a 55-yard scoring run.

Moon Valley’s defense also executed and collected a couple of interceptions in the second half. The Rockets first interception came shortly after Cox’s quick touchdown, building the score to 34-29.

As the second half of the game unfolded, both the Rockets and the Demons held a tight grip on the score board.

Duncan ran for a touchdown on 4th and goal to give his team a 36-35 edge.

But, with 1:06 remaining in the game, back came Moon Valley. Elzy completed a 50-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

The way the game was going, Moon Valley knew that an extra point would not suffice. They knew they had to go for two and did just that when Southwick completed a pass to Bobby Carlon, giving the Rockets a seven-point advantage.

But just when Moon Valley thought it had the game in the bag, Duncan completed a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Kolbe Pesnell, leaving the game at 43-42 with 27 second left.

(Greenway's Kolbe Pesnell makes a catch en route to scoring a 50-yard touchdown. Photo by Kevin French/maxpreps.com)

Greenway decided to go for the win and attempted a two-point conversion. The pass was dropped, though.

But Greenway gave itself another chance to win the game after it recovered the ensuing onside kick. With five seconds remaining in the game and the entire crowd on their feet, Duncan threw a ball from the Moon Valley 40-yard line but was intercepted by the Rockets.

This was not just a game for the Moon Valley Rockets. It was a defining moment for them as a team.

The win kept the Rockets (5-3 overall, 1-1 in West Valley Section) in the hunt for a 4A Conference postseason berth. Greenway dropped to 6-2 overall, 1-1 in the section.

“I feel like this win is really bringing us together as a team,” Southwick said. “I think we trust in each other and at the end of the day we’re family, and that’s what it’s all about.”