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Miles Sorise had run 2-minute drills before.

But this one carried more weight and came after it appeared Pioneer High School's stagnant second-half offense had run out of chances to reach the end zone for the first time since the second quarter.

Pioneer, in need of only one win to qualify for a Division I playoff berth, had left itself vulnerable, surrendering 11 straight points to rival Huron. Now with with only 2 minutes, 17 seconds left on the Hollway Field clock and the Pioneers trailing by 1, Sorise – Pioneer's veteran quarterback – surveyed the 71 yards left to cover and just started playing.

Four straight Drake Johnson runs moved the Pioneers closer. And then with one throw downfield to Ricardo Miller and a 1-yard Sorise touchdown surge with 29 seconds remaining, Pioneer escaped with a 23-18 victory Friday night.

The win was Pioneer's seventh straight over the River Rats, but more importantly, secured its sixth win of the season, qualifying the Pioneers (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) for the playoffs.

"This is one of the most significant points of our season right here," Sorise said. "Clinching (a playoff berth), beating Huron, homecoming – definitely big."

But for much of the second half, it was Huron that appeared it was primed to step into the center-stage spotlight. The River Rats (3-4, 1-3 SEC) erased a 10-point halftime deficit, using a Jeremy Jackson 5-yard touchdown pass and a successful 2-point conversion in the third quarter to cut into the deficit before Kane Mcgirt's 25-yard field goal gave Huron an 18-17 lead with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter.

Huron's defense bottle-necked Pioneer's offense into the fourth quarter, taking possession with under 4 minutes to play. With Pioneer clinging to slim chances, the River Rats needed only one first down to be able to run down the clock.

"If we get the stop, we get the win," Huron coach Cory Gildersleeve said.  

But when the River Rats failed to move the ball, Sorise began moving the Pioneers down the field. And after connecting with Miller once once previously in the night, Sorise found a wide-open Miller for a 39-yard reception down to the Huron 5-yard line.

"That was the changing moment in the game," Sorise said. "(Miller) told me if he beat the (defensive back), just to throw it up, throw it deep."

Miller, playing in his first Pioneer-Huron clash, did the rest.

"I told Miles I would go out and get it," Miller said. "I went out and made a play."

Miller's catch left Pioneer only 5 yards from the go-ahead touchdown. Johnson, who led Pioneer with 147 yards rushing and two touchdowns – including a 95-yard dash in the second quarter –  carried the ball to the 1 before Sorice capped 7-play drive with the score.

Huron's last gasp ended when Reilly Quigley intercepted a John Helvie pass, leaving the River Rats to digest a loss that ended its playoff chances.

"Obviously, it's a tough one to swallow," Gildersleeve said. "The kids played their hearts out and they left it out on the field. It was a good effort tonight, we just came up a little short."