Midland High's defense was tested early, as Monterey went 84 yards on 19 plays on the first possession of the game, ending with a 19-yard field goal by Nathan Styles which made it 3-0.  The Bulldogs answered back with a 5-yard scoring run by Barber in the second quarter to make it 6-3 before Monterey took the lead at halftime on an 11-yard run by Johnston.

The Plainsmen had taken a 17-13 lead early in the fourth quarter as Matt Meador scampered 18 yards for the go-ahead score. After that, the Bulldogs had two possessions in which they were forced to punt it away before they got one last chance to pull the game out.  With time running out, Rowland threw into the corner of the end zone and found Sledge, who pulled it in and kept both feet inside the sideline before falling down and scoring six points.