Befitting a matchup between two of the state’s top programs at the lower levels in recent years, two-time reigning Class 3A state champion Cascade Christian saw its seven-point lead evaporate in the final two minutes last Friday as No. 2 seed Banks rallied with a pair of touchdowns to claim a 27-20 victory.

The 3A football state quarterfinal contest was a rematch of last year’s championship finale — won 34-24 by the Challengers — and the Braves (10-0) were bound to not leave empty-handed again playing in their home stadium.

Deryk Farmer connected with Alex Fiannaca for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 6:17 remaining in the game and Farmer followed with a two-point conversion run to push No. 7 seed Cascade Christian (7-4) ahead 20-13.

The Challengers did well to slow Banks after that but could not stop the Braves completely as quarterback Lane Gilbert went in from 1-yard out with 2:08 to play to tie the game at 20-all.

Cascade Christian sought to break that tie in the final two minutes and got two first downs to seem well on its way, but faced with a fourth-and-1 at the Challengers’ 45-yard line, Farmer was turned back by defensive lineman Cade Wilson and linebacker Wyatt Jackson on a strong effort by the sophomore duo.

Banks was then able to get the ball back with a short field and, following key connections with Jarrett Martin and Max Walker, Gilbert was able to push through on a 1-yard effort with 13 seconds remaining to ice the comeback with 14 straight points.

The result snapped a six-game winning streak for Cascade Christian, and also proved to be the team’s third loss this fall in heartbreaking fashion after Siuslaw previously scored with no time on the clock and Henley went ahead with 4 1/2 minutes to play in those matchups.

In Friday’s outing, Farmer ran 27 times for 112 yards and completed 19 of 28 passes for 236 yards with one interception.

Banks, however, was able to bottle up a key Challengers cog in Bryson Walker, who opened the scoring with a 17-yard TD run in the first quarter but ultimately finished with 16 yards rushing on eight carries to go with five catches for 30 yards.

Bryley Richardson led the receivers with eight catches for 102 yards for Cascade, while Caleb Scaglione pulled in three passes for 71 yards.

Defensively, Walker posted a team-high seven tackles, with two for a loss.

Gilbert guided Banks successfully throughout the night, running 19 times for 100 yards while also completing 10 of 15 passes for 221 yards.

Jarrett Martin came through with a 9-yard TD run and 72-yard TD reception to help the Braves keep countering scores by the Challengers until Gilbert took over in the end.

NEWBERG 36, GRANTS PASS 33: At Newberg, a back-and-forth battle went the way of No. 16-seeded Newberg in the Class 6A state championship quarterfinals lower bracket Friday night, with the host Tigers getting a late touchdown and two-point conversion for the go-ahead points.

Jordan Rossetta had previously run for the second of his 1-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter to build a 33-28 lead for the 17th-seeded Cavemen (6-5), who suffered their fourth loss in the final five games.

Rossetta completed 14 of 32 passes for 216 yards but was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

Treyton Powers tacked on TD runs of 2, 6 and 6 yards to keep the scoreboard clicking early for Grants Pass, with the sophomore finishing with 207 yards on 28 carries to help the Cavemen collect 431 total yards.

Newberg (6-5) answered with its own potent ground attack, amassing 229 yards on 47 carries to gradually keep chipping away at the GP defense and then took to the air to catch the defense creeping up for three TD passes in a 13-for-18 outing for 150 yards.