SNOQUALMIE – The Mount Si High School Wildcats faced Liberty Friday night in their first home game of the season and came away with a teeth-clenching, gut-wrenching double-overtime win, 37-34.

The Patriots set the tone early, scoring the their first touchdown five minutes into the game. The Wildcats attempted an answer, but a few incomplete passes stalled the drive. Brett Bergstrom was forced to kick a 32-yard field goal, putting the Wildcats on the board.

Seconds later, Mount Si’s Jeremy Bess made touchdown-saving tackle, which helped set up a 51-yard Tyler Austin scamper to the end zone. With the extra point, the Wildcats jumped in front 10-7.

The second quarter was a see-saw affair for both teams, with neither getting the upper hand. That changed after the half-time break, as the Wildcats’ Pat Carter ran 40 yards for his only touch down of the night. Bergstrom’s point after was good, and Mount Si led by 10.

Barely three minutes into the fourth quarter, Liberty back Sam Merrel scored on a 17-yard run. The point-after attempt by Michael Book was good, and the score narrowed to 17-14.

Four minutes later lightning struck twice and Merrel scored his second touchdown – this time from 8 yards out. With extra point, the Patriots reclaimed the lead 21-17.

Mount Si came out throwing, as quarterback Alex Smart connected with Bergstrom on a 25-yard touchdown pass. But as the clock ticked down, the Wildcats weren’t able to preserve the win. The Patriots kicked a field goal with one second left on the game clock, tying the score at 21 apiece.

After a two-minute break, the two teams went into overtime. Brandon Dollinter drew wild cheers on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Smart. Bergstrom’s point after kick put the Wildcats ahead 31-24.

Liberty responded with a touchdown pass of its own from Book to Kyle Schott, tying the game for the second time at 31-31. With one overtime period exhausted, both teams prepared to do it all over again. The Patriots scored first on an impressive 36-yard field goal by Book, giving them the lead 34-31.

On what would prove to be the winning drive of the game, sophomore Wildcat Jason Rothgeb caught a pass from Smart, which set up a run by Carter to the 1-yard line. Smart sealed the victory on the ensuing quarterback sneak, and the Wildcats improved their record to 1-2.

Bergstrom was relieved that his quarterback found the end zone.

“I was afraid I was going to have to kick that field goal to tie, but we decided to score,” he said. ” It took the pressure off me.”

You can reach Becky Christopherson at (425) 888-2311, or e-mail her at becky.christopherson@valleyrecord.com.