For one team, it was a heartbreaking, scoreless showing on Senior Day. For the other, it snapped a four-game losing streak and created a positive note heading into the final week of the regular season.
Dimond shut out South 41-0 Saturday in game where the Lynx scored two touchdowns on their first three plays and never looked back.
"It feels good because we were on a four-game losing streak and we were hoping to end it tonight, and we did," Dimond quarterback Dylan Tufaga said.
Dimond (3-4, 1-3 CIC) dominated the battle between the Cook Inlet Conference's bottom dwellers.
The Lynx scored on their first play after a botched South punt gave them the ball on South's 22-yard line. Tufaga hit wide receiver Kota Ainu'u for the touchdown.
Auinu'u was the favorite target for Tufaga and backup quarterback Kyle Henrickson. He finished with five catches for 93 yards and two scores.
The Lynx defense forced South (1-5, 0-4) into another 3-and-out in the next drive and Tufaga ran the ball in from 31 yards out for Dimond's second touchdown on its third play of the game.
[Big-play defense sparks East's 16-0 win at West]
Later in the quarter, Tufaga rushed for an 11-yard touchdown, putting Dimond up 21-0.
"We're not usually on a fast start, so when we scored like 14, 21 points, we were feeling pretty confident in ourselves," Tufaga said. "I think after that, our defense and everybody got hyped and we never looked back."
Luck appeared to bounce South's way when Chaison Ashcraft recovered a Dimond fumble the midway through the second quarter.
The turnover set up South with first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but the Lynx stuffed the Wolverines on four straight plays.
That was the story of the night for South. The Wolverines' leaders included fullback Cameron Kinnebrew (9 rushes, 20 yards) and wide receiver Eli Turvey (3 receptions, 23 yards).
For Dimond, Tufaga and Henrickson combined for 185 passing yards and three scores. Tufaga also rushed for 87 yards, and Ainu'u threw a 25-yard pass on a trick play.
A host of penalties — especially in the second half — made for a clunky game. The teams combined for 26 penalties.
[4th-quarter drive and 4th-down defense propels Bartlett past Service, 21-17]
South closes its season Saturday at East. Dimond ends with a Friday home game against conference-leading Bartlett. Both the Wolverines and the Lynx are out of playoff contention.
"We have Bartlett next week and we just have to forget about this game and finish strong because it's our last game," Tufaga said.
Dimond 21 13 7 0 — 41
South 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
Dimond — Ainu'u 22 pass from Tufaga (Lyons kick), 8:51.
Dimond — Tufaga 31 run (Lyons kick), 6:49.
Dimond — Tufaga 11 run (Lyons kick), 4:19.
Second Quarter
Dimond — Mathis 1 run (Lyons kick), 10:55.
Dimond — Ainu'u 17 pass from Henrickson (pass failed), 4:48.
Third Quarter
Dimond — Sablan 40 pass from Tufaga (Lyons kick), 7:17.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Dimond: Tufaga 9-87, Ward 5-25, Team 2-18, Henrickson 1-8, Hostetter 1-4, Mathis 2-3. South: Kinnebrew 8-20, Mailealo 1-9, Bentz 1-8, Peterson 1-2, Alia 1-2, Kimmins 10-0, Hanson 13-(-9).
PASSING — Dimond: Tufaga 5-9-0–111, Henrickson 4-9-0–74, Ainu'u 1-1-0–25. South: Hanson 4-7–31.
RECEIVING — Dimond: Ainu'u 5-93, Sablan 1-40, Lyons 2-39, Maisey 1-28, Henrickson 1-10. South: Turvey 3-26, Kinnebrew 1-5.