RAVENNA – In playoff football, thrilling wins and painful losses are often separated by one crucial play.

That was certainly the case on Friday night, when conference rivals Ravenna and North Muskegon battled down to the wire in a Division 7 pre-district game.

With 4.1 seconds left in the contest, the Norse lined up on the Bulldog 35-yard line and needed to connect on a Hail Mary pass to win the game.

Quarterback Ben Meyers dropped back and threw the ball deep downfield, but it fell harmlessly to the ground, allowing Ravenna to escape with a thrilling 7-6 victory and ending North Muskegon’s season.

The Bulldogs will now travel to play Muskegon Catholic in a district championship game next week.

“It felt so good,” said Ravenna linebacker Drew Mabito, who totaled 4.5 tackles on the night, about the final pass hitting the ground. “I felt so much relief. My entire heart felt relieved. Now we’re just onto the next.”

That play was one of many crucial moments that took place in the final 64 seconds on Friday night.

With Ravenna winning 7-0, Meyers dropped back and found Nick Dana for a six-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-6 with 1:04 remaining.

The Norse took their final time out before attempting a two-point conversion.

On the two-point try, the Ravenna defense pressured Meyers into rolling to his right and throwing an incomplete pass, leaving the score at 7-6.

“I think the pass rush helped it,” said Ravenna head coach Justin Ego. “We made him scramble and make a play. We ended up making him throw it low, and I couldn’t be prouder of the defense.”

Following the unsuccessful conversion attempt, the Norse recovered an onside kick and gave themselves a final chance.

They drove 13 yards in 58 seconds before ultimately trying the last second miracle pass, which failed.

“I didn’t see anyone,” said Meyers about his last pass attempt. “I got pressured and just had to launch back and throw it.”

Both teams were held in check for most of the night, with Ravenna scoring its lone touchdown just five plays into the game.

Running back Thomas McCullough took a pitch from quarterback Kyle Beebe and dashed 48-yards down the right sideline to the end zone. The extra point gave Ravenna a 7-0 lead with 10:40 left in the first quarter.

That score held until the Norse scored with 1:04 remaining in the game.

Ravenna finished with 194 yards of offense while North Muskegon totaled just 155.

“We ran around and executed,” said Ego about the defensive effort. “Defensively I thought the coaches and players executed great. They really held North Muskegon in check, and that’s a heck of a team.”

McCullough led all rushers with 98 yards and a touchdown on eight carries while Meyers totaled 65 yards on 22 carries for North Muskegon.

Grant Becklin totaled 6.5 tackles to lead the Bulldog defense while Alec Newville finished with 10 tackles to lead the Norse.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Ego about his team’s ability to grind out the win. “I’ll take that win. It was pretty ugly, but I’ll take it. We fought through and I’ll take that battle any day of the week. We live to play another day.”

North Muskegon finished the season with a 4-6 record, and will lose nine seniors to graduation.

“We were right there,” said Norse head coach Larry Witham about the effort his team showed. “These are the kind that haunt you. I’ll watch this film a lot, wondering would’ve, should’ve, could’ve. They’re a very good football team and we’re pretty good too. We’re young though, and we’ll be back.”

Ravenna, now 7-3, will prepare for what should be a great game at Muskegon Catholic.

“Catholic will be a tough game,” Ego said. “They have a lot of experience and they’re a heck of a team. I’m going to take 24 hours and enjoy this It’ll be an exciting game, though. I’ll start worrying about that on Sunday.”