When the football squirted free from the grip of Lacey High School running back Jason Giresi with 2:45 left in the game, Southern Regional’s state playoff hopes were bouncing around nearits 35-yard line.

“It looked like the golden goose egg,” said senior defensive back Chris Citarella, who pounced on the ball to secure the Rams’ first playoff berth since 2012 with a 25-20 victory over the Lions. “I was in shock that the ball was on the ground, but I was glad I could get it.”