With 9 minutes remaining on the game clock, Auburn Mountainview let the ball, and the game, slip out of its hands. That fumble was all the Sumner Spartans needed to close the door on the Lions’ attempt at a win Friday night.

Spartans quarterback Aaron Clark sprinted to a first down. Lokalui Kamau carried the ball to the 13-yard line for another and two plays and less than two minutes later Brendon Baker picked up his second rushing touchdown of the night, giving the Spartans the breathing room they needed for a 28-13 win over the Lions.

The nonleague victory over the bigger 3A opponent gives the Spartans momentum as they head to Bonney Lake Friday night for a showdown with their 3A rival in the Sunset Bowl.

Bonney Lake put together a two-TD, two-minute, fourth-quarter rally Friday to tie White River and then won in double overtime.

The Spartans faced a similar quick-scoring offense in the Lions and plans to stay the course.

“We’re going to try to run the ball, control the clock and stop the big play,” SHS coach Keith Ross said.

Auburn Mountainview scored on pass plays of 67 and 80 yards, but the Spartan defense stymied the Lions to 21 yards rushing and forced five turnovers, three converted to TDs.

Linebacker Jon Mayer scooped up a fumble and raced 71 yards for the Spartans’ opening score.

Not much later, Baker bulled in from the 2-yard line for his first TD of the night. Clark ran in for the point after to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead.

Clark snatched the first of two interceptions and hit Tayler Fischlin on a 12-yard pass for the TD. Jace Johnson split the uprights for the PAT and a 21-7 lead.

The Lions scored in the third before the Spartans wrapped up the night.

Spartan penalties kept the Lions in the game, but Ross isn’t worried.

“We wanted to be real aggressive,” he said. “If you’re going to be aggressive you’re going to get penalties.”

The Spartans rushed for 241 yards, and tossed for another 91, including 88 from Fischlin.