This had just about everything you could ask for in high school football game.

Two unbeaten squads, huge momentum plays each way, a lightning delay, steady rainfall, a college venue, and a last-minute touchdown to determine the outcome.

Hunter Cramer scored with 12 seconds remaining to propel second-rated 9A Warner past top-rated 9B Faulkton for a 27-20 Lake Region Conference victory at Dacotah Bank Stadium Friday night.

When asked where the back-and-forth battle ranked among his all-time sporting events, Cramer responded, “This one was probably one of the top. With the rain, the atmosphere was crazy, especially at Dacotah Bank. It was a good atmosphere. It was fun.”

Cramer, who was clearly hobbled down the stretch, found a way to break free for a 33-yard run in the final minute to set up his one-yard quarterback keeper for the game-winner.

That touchdown was the final key play on a night that featured many of them. It was Cramer who got the whole momentum pendulum swinging in the first place with an 81-yard punt return for a score in the opening quarter.

“I just tiptoed the sideline, I guess,” Cramer said of the return. “That was crazy. They all blocked perfectly for me. I have to thank the blockers.”

Cramer found Jesiah Baum moments later for a touchdown pass and Warner had a 14-point lead and all of the momentum.

That changed in the second quarter when Gian DiMaria intercepted a pass and returned it to the Warner 19-yard line. Faulkton quarterback Layne Cotton scored five plays later and soon the Trojans had some momentum going their way.

It was the first of three touchdowns on the night for Cotton.

“He’s a big strong kid. If you hit him up top, you’re going to bounce off him,” said Warner coach Kerwin Hoellein. “You got to get him down on the legs and then you better wrap up.”

The game was halted for a lightning delay late in the first half and when play resumed the momentum swung both ways in a matter of seconds. Warner stopped Faulkton at the 6-yard line, then fumbled on the next play and Cotton scored with three seconds left to tie the game at the break.

Warner surged back ahead in the third period when Cramer fired a 26-yard TD strike to Payton Volk and the Monarchs appeared to have Faulkton on the ropes down the stretch. However, on a third-down-and-three, Cotton broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run with 5:52 remaining.

“I just saw great blocks from my linemen,” Cotton said. “I saw a hole and I was like alright, I got to go and I just took off, I guess.”

However, there was one last momentum swing left to take place. After the teams traded turnovers, Warner drove down the field, converting a fourth-down play to keep possession and eventually cashed in during the closing seconds.

“It was a fun football game. That’s what you want in high school football. You want to play in those competitive games,” said Faulkton coach Shayne Geditz. “We wanted to see where we were at. Warner is kind of the gold standard in our area and we went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams. They’ve got a heckuva good football team over there and they’ve got guys that make plays.”

In the end, the Monarchs ended up making one more play on this occasion to be able to capture the dramatic victory.

“I was just so proud of our kids. They just kept battling and battling,” Hoellein said. “That’s an awful good football team we just beat.”

Cramer finished the evening with 169 yards passing. While helping to lead his squad to an important victory, the senior knows there is still much work to be done, starting with another undefeated foe up next on the schedule in Hamlin next week.

“We’ve got to step our game up,” Cramer said. “I know that wasn’t the best game we’ve played, so we have to keep improving.”

Volk contributed 71 yards rushing and 74 yards receiving for the Monarchs.

“We needed somebody like Volk to step up,” Hoellein said, “and Payton played great tonight.”

Cotton finished with 158 yards rushing in the contest. While obviously disappointed in the outcome, the senior appreciated the opportunity to play in such a heart-pounding battle.

“We played well. We hung it out there,” Cotton said. “It was great. It was a well-rounded football game.”

The Trojans used the game as a bit of measuring stick and found out a few things about their football team.

“We think we’ve got a good football team,” Geditz said, “and now we know we do.”

Faulkton (5-1) 0 14 0 6 – 20

Warner (5-0) 14 0 6 7 – 27

First Quarter

W – Hunter Cramer 81 punt return (Alec Mikkelsen kick), 7:45.

W – Jesiah Baum 25 pass from Cramer (Mikkelsen kick), 3:53.

Second Quarter

F – Layne Cotton 6 run (Garrett Cramer run), 9:16.

F – Cotton 6 run, :03.

Third Quarter

W – Payton Volk 26 pass from Cramer, 1:23.

Fourth Quarter

F – Cotton 71 run, 5:42.

W – Cramer 1 run (Mikkelsen kick), :12.

OFFENSE: Faulkton, rushing 39-256 (Cotton 14-158, Cramer 9-49, Tristan Baloun 8-41, Spencer Melius 8-8), passing 2-12-1 for 7 (Cotton 2-12-1 for 7), receiving (Charlie Deiter 1-5, Cramer 1-2), first downs 12; Warner, rushing 25-134 (Volk 9-71, Cramer 10-54, Charlie Dulany 5-8), passing 11-20-3 for 169 (Cramer 11-20-3 for 169 (receiving (Volk 4-74, Devon Fischbach 3-44, Baum 3-31, Brodey Sauerwein 1-20), first downs 13.

DEFENSE: Faulkton, Cramer 7 tackles, Melius 6 tackles and 1 INT., Deiter 5 tackles, Cotton 4 tackles; Warner, Chays Mansfield 10 tackles, Dulany 8 tackles and 1 fumble recovery, Preston Cavalier 5 tackles, Zachary Evans 5 tackles, Volk 5 tackles and 1 INT.