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Twenty-four years and the better part of an overtime period since their last title, the Highland Rams still were 25 yards away from any hope of another.

They trailed by six in the first overtime of a 37-36 4A title-game victory that ended only when the Rams stopped Mountain Crest on a two-point conversion in double overtime.

But that was a half hour — a lifetime by the stopwatch of championship football — after Highland's season should have ended in a loss, then a win, only to continue on.

The Rams faced fourth and 10 from the 25 after a frenetic second half in which they traded scores with Mountain Crest into the final minute of regulation. Now, as everyone was racing around, confused, Nate Fakahafua stood still.

The Highland receiver was in position: lined up wide left, arms dangling, left foot leading the right, left knee pointed to the corner of the end zone.

Fakahafua caught a last-minute touchdown to beat Pine View in the quarterfinals. He focused, thinking back to that Nov. 6 afternoon, remembering what he told himself then. He repeated it in his mind.

"I'm the best receiver in this state," the 6-foot-5 player said.

"Nobody is going to stop me," he assured himself.

The receiver sprinted, catching a pass from Anthony Smithson, dragging two defenders as he glided over the front corner of the red turf of the end zone at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

An extra point kick would have won the game for Highland, but Hayes Hicken's try was blocked. Highland's perfect finish instead was an acceptable segue to a second overtime.

Touchdowns came easy for both in the second overtime. Smithson rushed in from four for Highland, Nate Rigby from two for Mountain Crest.

On the gutsy two-point conversion the ball again went to Rigby.

By the time he took two steps, Highland linebacker Ben Johnson had taken more. The two collided well short of the goal line.

"I just ran and hit him as hard as I could," said Johnson, who finished with 12 tackles. "I knew on that collision that he had no place to go."

Johnson paused, taking a deep, victorious breath.

"I knew it was over right there," he said.

boram@sltrib.comTwitter: @oramb