St. Michael’s got possibly the biggest win in the seven-year history of its football program Friday night, but it didn’t come without controversy.

The Cardinals defeated T.R. Miller 55-54 in overtime on a 2-point conversion attempt that might be talked about for a while.

Trailing 54-53, St. Michael coach Philip Rivers opted to go for two and the victory. Freshman QB Gunner Rivers lateraled to Brody Jones who lofted a wobbly pass into the end zone in the direction of an open Braxton Mills.

The senior juggled the ball as he went to the ground. Officials initially didn’t make a call either way until finally one ruled it incomplete, sending T.R. Miller players to the sideline to celebrate. However, after a conference, the call was reversed to a a completion and a St. Michael victory.

“It was crazy,” Philip Rivers said. “They said he caught it. It was bang, bang. He was on the ground. Of course, I’m biased. He was on the ground when it looked like he possessed the ball. It was crazy. I hope it doesn’t mar a great high school football game. It was a heck of a game.”

T.R. Miller coach Brent Hubbert said he thought video of the play clearly showed an incomplete pass.

“We told our kids there were 48 minutes in that game, and we shouldn’t have left it in the referees hands,” he said. “If that is the worse thing that ever happens to them, they’ve lived a good life. But it’s still crappy.”

The teams battled back-and-forth throughout the night.

Gunner Rivers went 22-of-30 for 270 yards and a touchdown. Jones was his main target, catching eight passes for 155 yards and a score. Noah Moss caught five passes for 45 yards and rushed six times for 40 yards.

Martin Corte rushed for 187 yards and 6 TDs on 27 carries. He also had seven receptions for 58 yards.

“It’s a huge win for us,” Philip Rivers said. “That’s a really good football team. They coach the stew out of those guys. They have 730 wins in the history of the program. We have like 30.

“It was a heck of a football game. Our mantra all week was this was a chance for us to win another region game and secure a winning season and beat a quality opponent. We still may be the fourth seed in the playoffs when all is said and done, but at least this may give us a chance to move up.”

St. Michael improved to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in 4A, Region 1 play. The Cardinals are idle in Week 11 before making their postseason debut in two weeks. T.R. Miller fell to 6-3, 5-2 and will also be in the playoffs. The Tigers close the season against rival W.S. Neal next week.

“It’s pretty clear in the video, but it is what it is,” Hubbert said of the final play. “We will move on and learn life isn’t fair sometimes. It was a very interesting way to end OT and a great high school football game. Neither team quit. I hate it ended like that, but I’m sure they would have been unhappy had they called it incomplete.”