MISSOULA — Missoula Loyola Sacred Heart entered Friday night's contest against the undefeated No. 1 Eureka Lions as a decided underdog. 

A 1-3 start cast some doubts with some wondering whether the Rams' 18-year playoff streak might come to an end this year. But on Friday night of homecoming week, with the Rams found their magic.

Senior Ethan Stack, who has served as Loyola's placekicker for less than three weeks, nailed a 29-yard field goal with under 90 seconds remaining to seal a 17-14 victory over the Lions.

"I guess I've just never thought of myself kicking a field goal to win a game on homecoming," Stack said. "It's pretty special."

The drama originated when the Rams' normal kicker twisted his ankle a couple weeks prior, creating a need for someone to step in. The six-foot-six wide receiver volunteered and has been practicing ever since.

"He's a stellar athlete," head coach Todd Hughes said of Stack. "We didn't even know he could kick... He's been pretty successful at it."

The game-winner turned out to be Stack's first field goal. He had only kicked extra points in all their previous games.

Rams wide receiver Ethan Stack catches a pass against Eureka Friday, Sept. 27 at Loyola. Stack later kicked the game-winning field goal for his team.

How confident was his team leading up to the decisive play?

"100% confident," senior wide receiver Vince Lincoln said. "That kid can kick from 60 yards."

Besides his golden-boot-level performance, Stack also helped at wide out on the final drive. He recorded multiple impressive catches throughout the evening, but a first-down snag to bring his Rams within kicking range ended as the most impactful. As his team ran the ball on their final possession attempting to drain the clock while securing minimal extra yardage, it became clear the end result of the drive would be an attempted field goal. 

"They set it," Stack recalled, "and I knew it was time to man up."

The kick was nearly a mere footnote on the stat sheet, though, as the Lions received the ball after the field goal and drove into Loyola territory with time for one final possession. With nine seconds on the clock, Eureka's drive stalled out on fourth down and the field goal unit trotted onto the field. After an ice-out attempt from Loyola, it was time for a potential game-tying field goal.

And then it wasn't. Eureka faked the field goal, instead opting for a heave towards the endzone for the game-winner instead of a game-tying attempt. The pass failed to reach its intended target, and a quick kneel-down from the Rams ended the contest.

The ending reminded Hughes of the 2016 state title game between the Rams and Lions, a game Eureka won 31-28.

"Five seconds left, it was a hail mary pass, and they won," Hughes recalled. "They came away on the better end that time, we did this time."

The win, coming in the first game of conference play, vaults the Rams right back into the playoff hunt. The dire need for a positive result was recognized by the team, symbolized by the special nickname given to Loyola's past seven days.

"It was black flag week," Lincoln said. "No mercy."

While the road to the postseason is still weeks away and will require wins against some of the best teams in Class B, Hughes believes the win instilled a great deal of confidence in his team.

Knocking off one of the states' juggernauts couldn't have come at a better time.

"I've said it all along, we've got a bunch of really good athletes," Hughes said.

"Once we realize the potential we have, we could be pretty formidable."

"When you can take a Eureka team that's going to be there at the end — they always are — and beat 'em, its a big deal."