The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Choctaw. If the Indians wanted the opportunity to host multiple playoff games, they could not afford to start 0-3. They didn’t, defeating Pace 21-14 in an absolute grindfest of a contest.

“The way we won, battled back and forth, it’s always difficult to come to Pace and win, super physical game, super proud of our guys,” Choctaw Head Coach Frank Beasley said.

The first quarter began with both teams exchanging punts.

On Choctaw’s second drive, a pass from Isaiah Collins to Noah Calderon for a first down was called back for a holding penalty. On the next drive, the Patriots moved into Choctaw territory, but a scoring chance came up empty when Brooks Washington’s pass was intercepted by Jabron Ruffin.

• A blindside block on Jordyn Long that injured Char’son Floyd pushed the Indians back, with Choctaw starting on its own 10 as the first quarter ended.

The Indians offense started finding its legs in the second quarter. Collins hit Von’Tavious Keller on a screen that he took all the way for a first down. Carter Marracco took a direct snap on third-and-2 and carried it into Pace territory, and Collins connected with Calderon at the Pace 30 before hitting Marracco for another first down.

A holding penalty, a sack by Caden Shoemaker and a dropped pass stalled the drive, setting up an Andrew Rynearson field goal attempt. Rynearson missed, but Pace was flagged for running into the kicker, giving the Indians new life.

A few plays later, Marracco punched it in for a touchdown to put Choctaw up 7-0.

Pace drove into field goal range off a long Makael Williams run to the Indians 25, but Choctaw blocked the field goal attempt as the half expired with the Indians still leading 7-0.

Pace got the ball to open the second half and moved to its own 37.

The Patriots converted a key third-and-long when Washington found Williams on a screen that he took into Choctaw territory. Pace faced another third-and-long, but came up short when Mason Farmer dropped what could have been a walk-in touchdown from Washington. Williams managed to convert a direct snap on fourth down for a first.

The Choctaw defense forced another fourth down and this time stuffed Williams behind the line for a stop. The Indians offense showed life again as Rives Brown ripped off a big gain on a reverse and Collins hit Ryne Burks to get to the 20. A holding penalty on Burks derailed the drive, though, and Choctaw was soon forced to punt.

Pace got into Choctaw territory after two straight Indian penalties. Floyd had a long run to the Indian 25, but Choctaw forced a fourth down as the third quarter ended.

The fourth quarter quickly proved to be action-packed as both offenses came alive. Williams converted the fourth down, and Pace drove all the way to the 1-yard line before Williams punched it in for the game-tying touchdown, knotting the score at 7-7.

Choctaw answered.

Marracco had a long gain on a direct snap, then converted a key fourth down. Collins hit Calderon for a first down, then found Burks. That set up Marracco’s second touchdown of the game, but a bad snap doomed the ensuing extra-point attempt, making the score 13-7 Indians with four minutes remaining.

Pace responded again. Choctaw initially forced a fourth down, but Washington managed to convert for a first. Then Williams broke free for a 64-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the night. Pace converted the extra point, giving the Patriots a 14-13 lead with 2:42 left.

But once again, Choctaw answered. The Indians quickly drove into Pace territory, and an injury to Collins set up a redemption chance for Baker Giles. Giles found Amir Reese for a go-ahead touchdown to put Choctaw back in front.

“What a catch. He’s a great player. Defensively, he made a lot of plays. Offensively, he’s going to start doing his thing,” Beasley said.

“I wanted to win. I didn’t want to lose again,” Reese said. “I knew when I went out there, my QB Baker was out there. I knew he wanted to throw me the ball, so I was ready for a pass. So I made a play and got us the win.”

• “That was the greatest catch I’ve seen in a minute,” Marracco added.

Marracco then converted the two-point conversion, putting the Indians up 21-14 with 1:44 left and capping off a strong performance.

“He’s unbelievable. The things that he does, he just breaks tackles and runs,” Beasley said.

“The o-line did great tonight. They blocked their butts off, opened holes for me, the running blocked their butts off as well, and the wide receivers made plays,” Marracco said.

The Patriots had one more chance, starting from their own 16. Pace converted when Washington hit Williams on a screen to the 31. On third down, Washington found Aaron Muldowney, who took it into Choctaw territory with 43 seconds left. Washington spiked the ball to stop the clock, and Williams picked up another gain on a screen.

Washington threw an incompletion, Williams had a good gain, and Washington spiked it again. Washington burned time in the pocket before his final pass fell incomplete with 2.9 seconds left, setting up one last play.

Tyler Floyd was called in, and his pass fell incomplete, giving Choctaw the win.