Mary Montgomery erupted for 17 points in three and half minutes in the fourth quarter Friday night to stun Baker, 37-20, snapping a 12-game losing streak in the series.

“We started 0-4, but I knew if we stayed the course and continued to work hard, we could be finish the season 6-4,” said Jared Hollins, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another for the Vikings (4-4, 3-2 Class 7A, Region 1).

Trailing 14-13 at halftime, Baker (3-5, 3-2) took a 20-14 lead three plays into the second half on a Josh Flowers 61-yard touchdown run. The Vikings then responded with 23 unanswered points.

The Hornets’ first possessions in the fourth quarter resulted in turnovers, the first of which led to the final shift in momentum.

MGM went 35 yards in three plays, capped by Jared Hollins’ 2-yard run with 7 minutes left. After another Josh Flowers’ fumble, MGM added a 31-yard field.

Three plays later, Flowers was intercepted and it was returned inside the 5-yard line. Freshman Shondell Harris scored from 1-yard out and the ensuing point-after set the final.

Offensively Mary Montgomery rushed for 101 yards and passed for 195.

“We had great balance overall, we ran the ball in some spots, but made enough plays in the end to win, proud for this team for believing in each other,” said Vikings Zach Golson.

Star of the game: Hollins connected with James Bolton on touchdown passes of 24 and none bigger than the 34-yarder in the corner of the end zone on third-and-long to tie the game at 20. “James and I have been playing together for so long, we just have this connection,” said Hollins, who passed 195 yards. On the season he has tallied 20 touchdowns passing and five rushing.

Play of the game: The Vikings defense forced their fourth turnover of the game with 3:28 as Qualaunte Westry pressured Flowers to throw an interception into the hands of Jariell Lett, who returned it to the 5 yard line to secure the victory.

Stat sheet: Flowers rushed for 191 yards scoring and had scoring runs of 16 and 61 yards. He added 55 yards thru the air, all in the second half. Jaden Campbell returned a punt 55 yards for a Hornet touchdown … Keshun Johnson led the Vikings on the ground with 51 yards rushing and a 3-yard touchdown run. James Bolton had 127 yards receiving.

By the numbers: 248, points scored by the Vikings this season, MGM scored a combined 190 points scored in 2021 and 2020. … 7, combined turnovers. … 37, The most points MGM has scored on Baker since 2002, the last time the Vikings made the playoffs.

Coachspeak: “Defensively the turnovers were huge for us. We felt like we contained Flowers late in the game, special teams, Aaron Mccraney made big kicks for us.’ — Golson

“We can’t turn the ball over, especially with the weapons they have (MGM), and the way they move the ball on offense.” — Baker coach Steve Normand.

They said it: “Coach told us to keep our foot on the gas. We stayed calm, (and) knew we could win.” — Bolton

What’s next? Mary Montgomery hosts Daphne. Baker is idle next week, returning to action Oct. 21 at Fairhope.