The Olympic Trojans felt they were poised to put a major dent in any remaining hopes of a Week 4 comeback by the Spartans, the two teams locked in an unbudging defensive battle on Bainbridge Island Sept. 27.

Faced with a 4th and 3 at their own 48-yard line and a chance to preserve their 14-11 lead while running down the fourth-quarter clock, coach Sal Quitevis elected for his Trojans to go for it.

There was nothing especially unique about the play itself, a play-action bootleg run by Olympic quarterback Antonio Castorena that was stopped about 2 yards short of a first down. Spartans players and coaches held up their closed fists in triumph. Trojans close to the play began jogging back toward the far sideline and multiple officials crashed in, waving their hands to signal the play’s end.

It was over. That is, it was over for everybody except Bainbridge senior Paxton Malloy. “I saw someone punch (the ball) out, and I saw it on the ground,” he said. “I didn’t hear the whistle blow yet, and I just picked it up and kept going. I had a bunch of people yelling on the sideline for me.”

Malloy scooped up the football and sprinted down the sideline to the endzone, 48 yards away. The sideline judge signaled a touchdown, sending the Spartan sideline into a frenzy and the Trojans into an angry fit of confusion.

Spartan coach Dan Schoonmaker, who had one of the best views of the play, reaffirmed his defensive back’s belief that the ball had come out. “They were battling over it the whole time. The ref was right on top of it, and that ball was loose,” he said.

The score was upheld, and an interception by senior Garrett Goade on the ensuing Trojan drive followed by a clutch third-down conversion made that controversial scoop and score the decider in an 18-14 Spartan stunner over the Trojans.

Video coverage confirmed multiple officials, including the referee, had waved their arms in a motion intended to end the play.

“They say because the one guy on the sideline said he fumbled it and let it go while they’re doing this,” Quitevis said, frantically waving his hands in a similar motion. “The play was freaking over. We don’t even know if it was a clear fumble.”

Schoonmaker even displayed uncertainty, saying he did not hear a whistle but had also not seen any signals from officials. “If I’m on the other sideline, I’d probably have some issues with it too, but from where we were sitting, you know.”

The ruling overshadowed what was otherwise an exciting matchup between two teams vying for the 2A Olympic League crown. Olympic struck first, Castorena taking it for a 1-yard score, and Bainbridge was held scoreless after one quarter.

Spartan quarterback Jack Grant, making his first start after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1, managed to lead his team down the field for two scoring drives in the second quarter, the first ending with a 34-yard field goal by senior Gunnar Lockett. The senior quarterback rushed for the Spartans second score of the quarter and only offensive touchdown of the game, capping a two-minute drill with a 14-yard touchdown with seconds remaining in the first half.

“I think maybe I was a little bit more cautious, but you know, when we needed it, I took it,” he said afterward. “Got hit a bit, but like, it was good throughout the day.”

Schoonmaker described Grant as a fearless player in the postgame but he and his senior quarterback would come to agree that it had been the defense to win the day. “It was one of the best feelings in my life,” Malloy said. “First and only touchdown, hopefully many more to come.”

Junior Rowan Meek of Bainbridge tries to get a few extra yards before going out of bounds.