The stage was set for the running backs. The first of an efficient series of downs began with River handing the ball to Gerry Sun. Aided by an uncanny sense of timing and the seemingly invisible way he slipped through gigantic linebackers, in a series of short carries, Gerry went down the field, running the precise distance needed, getting up unharmed when Humboldt Defense took him down.

The next first down was distinguished by a pass fake and a handoff to Dick (“B2”) Beatie, the mountain bike champion from Truckee. Dick was adept at taking nasty hits and getting up slowly. Huygens was almost at midfield. River handed the ball to Sun. The clock was running. Well protected, narrowly evading a confused Humboldt Defense, Sun traversed back and forth across the field. 4th and 3. The team was at the Humboldt 30 yard line. Less than a half a minute remained in the game.