Maize defeated top-ranked Salina South Cougars 40-28 at home Friday.

With the student section ready to charge the field like a pack of bulls, the final seconds ran off the clock in what is one of the team’s biggest wins in years. After the game, the players met the students and celebrated on the field.

“Huge win for the program with the knowledge much more to come.” linebackers coach J.J. Milanovich said.

Chase White scored three touchdowns, including a five-yard run to give the Eagles a two-possession lead with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Eagles and Cougars traded touchdowns twice in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

The score was tied 14-14 at halftime after junior quarterback Connor Lungwitz, who passed for 154 yards and four touchdowns, hit Kavan Jobe for a two-yard TD with 50 seconds to play in the second quarter.

Lungwitz’s four-yard TD pass to White with 8:41 to play in the third quarter gave the Eagles a 21-14 lead.

Later in the third quarter, South attempted a fake punt and failed, giving the Eagles good field position and setting up White’s TD that made the score 27-14. White ended with 158 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

With 5 minutes left in the game, South scored a 47-yard TD pass to make the score 27-21. But the Eagles answered, scoring on Lungwitz’s eight-yard pass to Colton Helm to make the score 33-21.

But the game still wasn’t over.

South added another long TD before White put the game away with a 51-yard run 38 seconds remaining in the game.