Photos by SCOTT GULLEDGE / Scroll

As players warmed up for the game, Russell Merten, a freshman from Wyoming, Ohio., and a fan of the Knights said, “We came to see Curtis Johnson, No. 30, he’s a stud muffin, and look out for number four [Zac Johnson, a junior from Salem, Utah], he catches everything.” Indeed, it seemed that it was true, at least in terms of his catching abilities.

“The Hawks had been playing well at the end of the season, and if their offensive line can hold up then look out for number two, Brennen Ames [a senior from Loveland, Colo.],” said Adam Catterson, a sophomore from Portland, Ore. and a fan of the Hawks.

In the first half the Knights established a strong running game with the smash-mouth style of

No. 52, Josh Pettit, a sophomore from Randolph, N.J., who had a couple breakaway runs. As predicted by Catterson, Johnson caught multiple passes and two touchdowns in the first half giving the Knights the lead.

Ames made some strong runs for the Hawks but they weren’t able to capitalize because of the strong play from the Knights defense.

At halftime fans were entertained by the BYU-Idaho Viking marching band and the Spirit and Cheer teams.

In the second half the Knights continued where they left off, with Johnson pulling in another touchdown pass, giving the Knights an 18-point lead.

The Hawks continued with a game plan of strong running that got them an Ames’ touchdown.

However, it wasn’t enough, and together with a couple of injuries, the offense of the Knights was too potent.

All night long the Knights had gone on all cylinders and had shown they could run and pass the ball effectively, leaving the defense too spread out.

The Hawks’ fate was sealed as No. 11, David McCormack, a freshman from Lake Oswego, Ore., ran for a touchdown that ended the game and gave the Knights a 25 to eight victory and a perfect season.

However, in the very end, both teams won: at the end-of-the-season league banquet, Ames and McCormack tied for the title of Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the season.