Timberline trusted its kicker over its stars. He secured the Wolves’ 1st SIC title
With the first conference championship in program history on the line, Timberline didn’t put the ball in the hands of its UC Davis-bound quarterback. It didn’t try to find its Utah-bound wide receiver. It didn’t look for its Idaho-bound tight end.
Instead, it turned to kicker Hagen Clint. And the junior delivered, drilling a 32-yard field goal to cap a 35-32 victory over No. 1-ranked Eagle that secured the Wolves their first league title since the school opened 28 years ago.
“I don’t think he’s missed all year,” Timberline quarterback Jack Brant said. “In practice, he’s spot-on. We knew he could hit it. It was just like PAT, just a little bit farther.”
Brant led the No. 3-ranked Wolves (8-1) on the game-winning 50-yard drive, scrambling for his life and extending plays with his legs. His 22-yard completion to Hudson Lewis set Timberline up with third-and-2 from the 11-yard line with 11 seconds remaining.
The Wolves still had two timeouts. But with Eagle’s pass rush bearing down on Brant, Timberline opted to take a knee in the middle of the field to set up Clint.
“I didn’t want to put our kids in a position where we blow it by managing the game conservatively,” Timberline coach Ian Smart said. “... We had a kid that I felt like could hit it. So at that point, you kill the clock and don’t give them the ball back. And you just either win or lose as a group, and take that chance.”
Clint didn’t waste that chance, splitting the uprights before waiving goodbye to the Eagle (8-1) stands as Timberline stormed the field for the largest win in program history.
Friday’s victory added to a litany of milestones for the Wolves. It pushed Timberline’s win total to eight, tying a program record set in 2003. It marked back-to-back victories over the state’s No. 1-ranked team. And it set the Wolves up for a playoff run with home-field advantage through the state semifinals.
Timberline will host the winner of Capital (5-4) at Middleton (6-3) in the quarterfinals in two weeks.
“We’ve had so many doubters throughout the years,” Brant said. “You go to Timberline and they expect you to transfer if you want to win some football games. We proved them wrong. Everyone stayed together, and we got it done.”
Timberline held a 19-7 halftime lead before a back-and-forth second half kept the scoreboard operator busy. The fourth quarter featured four lead changes alone, and Eagle looked to complete its comeback when Noah Burnham punched in a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:46 left.
The wild final drive saw Eagle sack Brant twice, a game-winning touchdown pass to Lucas Thompson wiped out due to an ineligible receiver downfield penalty, and a lengthy delay due to a fan with a laser pointer.
But Brant hit Lewis one last time for a 22-yard pass, and Clint delivered his second walk-off field goal in the past two years. He also nailed a 32-yarder in the season opener against Borah last season.
“We have heart. We want it really bad,” Clint said. “Everyone on this team is absurdly dedicated to what we do. Every practice is filled with intensity. As you can see, we bring the hype every game.
“This group is just different. We had a really good class this year. We just want it more than other teams.”
Brant carried Timberline all night, finishing 15-for-28 for 252 yards and a touchdown. But he did most of his damage with his legs, running for 106 yards and three TDs on 15 carries.
Lewis hauled in nine catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and he threw a 19-yard score to Thompson for the Wolves’ first score.
Eagle scored touchdowns on all four of its second-half drives. But the Mustangs couldn’t get enough stops to rally as Timberline finished the night with points on six of its final seven possessions. And the Mustangs didn’t help their cause with 12 penalties for 130 yards.
Burnham ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and Eagle quarterback Austin Ramsey finished 12-for-18 for 152 yards and two TDs.
The loss meant that Eagle will be the SIC’s No. 2 seed in the state playoffs, which also comes with a first-round bye. The Mustangs will host the winner of Rocky Mountain and a yet-to-be-determined at-large team in two weeks.
The IHSAA plans to announce the at-large teams and the full playoff bracket Sunday once the final MaxPreps.com rankings are set.
This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM.
