Down by nine with less than three minutes remaining, things looked extremely bleak for Hill-Murray

But the Pioneers would not go down that easily.

Stopping a fake punt that for all intents and purposes would have sealed a Byron win, Hill-Murray made the most of its nearly last-gasp opportunity.

On the first offensive play, Jackson Reeves dropped back, stepped up under pressure and threw a perfect strike to Gavin Berg, who didn’t stop running until he found the end zone to complete a 50-yard play and the Pioneers, who began the fourth quarter down by 10, were within 31-28.

With just one timeout left and 2:21 on the clock, an onside kick had to be the call. The first attempt was called back as a Pioneer was offside.

Take two was recovered by the Pioneers near the Byron sideline. Bears players and coaches were animatedly adamant a Hill-Murray player touched the ball before it went 10 yards.

The officials gathered.

And talked.

And talked.

And talked a little more before ruling a Pioneer did touch the pigskin before it went 10 yards.

Three runs later by Adam Glynn — two for first downs — and Byron left Eastview High School Thursday with a 31-28 win in a Class 4A state quarterfinal.

In the tournament for the first time since 2003, the Bears (10-1) next get Rocori (9-2) in a semifinal at 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Rocori beat Orono in a 28-27 nail-biter on Thursday.

Glynn finished with 257 yards on the ground. Kale Robinson ran for two scores and threw for another for the Bears, in a fourth-quarter nail-biter for the third straight week.

Hill-Murray (8-3) got 148 rushing yards and a touchdown from Alex Gross. Reeves and Xavier Daniels also had rushing touchdowns.

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