It was the Harrison defense that sealed the deal.
On Friday night, the Goblins defeated the Mountain Home Bombers, 21-13, for their 50th win of the rivalry.
Harrison faced a critical 4th-and-inches late in the game. Goblin quarterback Noah Ditmanson was stuffed at the line as Harrison came up an inch short of a first down.
The Goblin defense answered the bell.
Josh Williams sacked the Bomber quarterback to set up 2nd-and-26. Two plays later, Mason Martin broke into the backfield with a tackle for loss, setting up a Mountain Home 4th-and-26.
A desperation heave from the Bombers was picked off by Canyon Willard who returned the ball to the Mountain Home 43-yard line with 1:25 to play.
The Goblins would take a knee as the clock ticked down to :00.
Harrison entered the fourth quarter with a 14-13 advantage, but added onto the slim lead.
Ditmanson recovered one of six Mountain Home fumbles at the 47-yard line before Taner Edwards led the offense down the field.
Edwards capped the drive with a 5-yard plunge into the endzone. Micah Ford hit the extra point to put Harrison’s lead at 21-13.
Mountain Home scored with 2:19 to play in the third quarter, but were unable to knot the game as the extra point attempt hit the left upright and bounced back into the endzone.
The Goblins struck first to open the game’s scoring in the opening quarter.
Canyon Willard took the opening kickoff inside Bomber territory as Harrison’s offense went to work with great field position.
The Goblin offense was held in check until an intended fourth down pass from Ditmanson to Cameron Cain resulted in a pass interference penalty on the Bombers. With a fresh set of downs, the Goblins used a trick play to find the endzone.
Ditmanson hit Cain on a flee flicker. Cain lateralled the ball to Josh Williams who scampered down the sideline for a 22-yard score. Ford hit the extra point for a 7-0 Harrison lead with 9:19 left in the first quarter.
Mountain Home would answer with a touchdown of its own with 2:50 to play in the quarter.
The teams would head to the second quarter tied at 7-7.
The Goblins would reclaim the lead when Ditmanson found Cody Glover in the engine for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 8:14 to play in the half. Ford’s extra point set the score at 14-7.
Harrison got an opportunity to put more points on the board when Edwards connected with Mason Martin on a 41-yard pass to the Mountain Home 2-yard line.
The Goblins would come up empty as a 20-yard field goal attempt missed wide to the right with 12 seconds on the clock.
Harrison would take a 14-7 lead into the half.
The Goblin wins set the all-time record at 50-17-3 in favor of Harrison.
This is the fourth-consecutive year the Goblins have won the rivalry matchup.
Harrison will take its 1-0 record to Siloam Springs next Friday night.
GOBLINS TOP BOMBERS FOR WIN NO. 50
