Finding a way.

On Thursday night, that’s exactly what Northwestern was able to do against rival Northern Lehigh.

A game that featured just about everything - from game-breaking runs, scoop and scores, one handed-interceptions and kickoff returns - the Mountain Road Rumble certainly left those in attendance feeling like they got their money’s worth.

In the end, it was the Tigers that found a way to hang on against the Bulldogs in what is already a candidate for Game of the Year, as Northwestern came away with a narrow 34-33 victory.

“What a great high school football game,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder. “A battle between two rivals, with both of us on a short week and the weather definitely not cooperating. There were a lot of eyes on this game tonight. First off, I have to give Coach Tout and the Bulldogs a lot of credit; that’s a good football team.

“There were certainly a lot of ebb and flow in this one, and they had the upper hand a few times, but we were able to bounce back. I thought our defense, when they needed to make big plays, they were able to do that, and that’s not an easy task against their playmakers.”

Ebb and flow might be putting it mildly as the two squads took turns trying to put each other away numerous times.

At the end of the second quarter, it looked like one team was finally going to generate game-swinging momentum. With the score knotted at 21, Northwestern was able to gain a one-score advantage on an 18-yard Justin Holmes touchdown scamper up the middle with 3:02 remaining in the first half.

The Bulldogs got a heavy dose of the Tigers’ signal caller in the run game as he pounded and grinded his way for 225 yards on 28 carries. Holmes’ score capped off a seven-play drive that started at the Northwestern 36.

The ‘Dawgs then did their best to answer, driving all the way to the Tigers’ 2-yard line, with three seconds remaining and one play to even up the score before the half.

But the Northwestern defense came up with one of its biggest stops when defensive back Jacob Peters batted down a Dylan Smoyer pass attempt near the right pylon.

“Our coaches kept us focused throughout the game,” said Peters. “They kept saying, ‘Don’t get lulled to sleep by the run,’ and on that play, I just stayed on my guy and didn’t lose him and was able to break on the ball and knock it down.”

After an offensive-driven first half, both defenses settled in a bit in the second, with a combined 18 points scored between the two squads in the second half.

Northern Lehigh struck first at the 5:52 mark in the third, after a 39-yard hookup between Smoyer and Trevor Amorim helped set up a 12-yard score by Izaiah Ramos to make it a one-point game.

The Tigers then went to their workhorse Holmes on their first possession of the final frame. It looked as if Northwestern was going to up its lead again after driving to the Bulldogs’ 17, but an impressive run to the 3-yard line by Cade Christopher resulted in an all-out scrum as the ball popped loose. Northern Lehigh ended up recovering the ball at the five.

Enter Peters once again, who made a spectacular one-handed interception a few plays later after Smoyer took a shot down the right sideline. That pick led to an eventual Holmes 10-yard score to put the Tigers up by seven with 2:46 left in the game.

“Just a gutty performance from Peters tonight,” said Snyder. “He’s such a great kid, and he’s new to the game. He’s only been with us for two years, but he’s put in the time and the work in the weight room. He made some big plays for us tonight, and he’s been getting better. I couldn’t be happier for the kid.”

Northern Lehigh did not go quietly, as on the ensuing kickoff Matt Frame went 93 yards to the house, rumbling down the right sideline to get Northern Lehigh within one. Without hesitation, the Bulldogs’ staff signaled for two.

And yet again, the Tigers’ defense came up big. A pitch to Amorim on the left side came up just short on the two-point attempt as defensive end Ben Dunstan made the game-saving stop.

“I told our kids here tonight, we can be special,” said Northern Lehigh mentor Joe Tout. “Nobody hang your head. It was just an awesome high school football game. Any time a game comes down to a two-point conversion, it’s usually a good football game.

“Our kids battled and battled and never hung their heads. Throughout the whole game, our kids responded anytime there was adversity, and that’s something you always want to see.”

THURSDAY SHOW ON TURF

… The offenses were certainly clicking as the two teams combined for 743 total yards of offense and 67 points.

TIMELY TURNOVERS

… Northwestern had three turnovers on the night compared to the Bulldogs’ two, but both of Northern Lehigh’s miscues either resulted in a score or led to a score.