PARKER >> With less than a minute to go, the scoreboard read: Mountain Vista 45, Fairview 42.

But Fairview’s Ki Ellison remained cool and calm under the dark night sky at EchoPark Stadium — and we’ll come back to that relocation.

The Class 5A No. 7 seed Knights had taken No. 2 Mountain Vista to task late into Friday night in the state quarterfinals, and now with the season on the line, Ellison did what he had done all night — convert. Ellison connected with Toray Davis for the go-ahead score, giving Fairview a 49-45 lead over the Golden Eagles with just seconds to go in regulation.

But, with arguably the best quarterback in the state about to set foot on the field, it would be the defense that would have to show up in this high-scoring playoff game. And it was Davis who was up to the task of heroically shutting down Mountain Vista quarterback Austyn Modrzewski. Moments after scoring the go-ahead touchdown, Davis intercepted a Modrzewski pass to ice the game for Fairview (12-0). While most had deemed this a David-vs.-Goliath task, Fairview achieved what it had initially set out to do. The Knights had achieved the rarest of comebacks, winning 49-45 to remain the only defeated team in 5A.

Fairview advanced to the state semifinals, where it will meet either No. 6 Legend or No. 3 Ralston Valley next weekend.

Friday’s game didn’t come without some of the strangest of circumstances. In fact, the 2013 NFL Super Bowl comes to mind. In that Super Bowl XLVII at the Superdome, the Baltimore Ravens led the San Francisco 49ers 21-6 with13:22 left in the third quarter. And then the power went out. What followed was nearly a made-for-Hollywood comeback, with the Niners rebooting with the power in the final 28 minutes of the game.

Forward to Friday, and Fairview fans were likely hoping for a similar rally when the power went out at halftime — only one that actually succeeded. As fate would have it, the Knights would get their Hollywood ending — but at a different location on the same night.

Nearly five hours before the game ended at Echo Park in Parker, it started at Halftime Help Stadium in Highlands Ranch. Mountain Vista (11-1) had built a 35-21 lead at halftime, and then the lights went out across the area, leaving the stadium in complete darkness. The power returned after 20 minutes but only lasted about 20 seconds before shutting down again.

After much deliberation, it was decided to move the game to Echo Park — in Parker. While Fairview had owned the first quarter and Mountain Vista the second, back at Halftime Help, of course, The Knights took full advantage of the extended halftime and made adjustments on the bus ride east to Parker.

Fairview shut down Mountain Vista’s first drive, and then got within seven points at 35-28 when Ellison connected with Jordan Rechel. The Golden Eagles responded, running down the field and scoring to add to their lead, going up 42-28. That was the final time they reached the end zone.

Fairview made it 42-34 with a minute remaining the third quarter, when Rechel pounded into the end zone. The Knights missed an extra point for the second time of the night, however.

There’d be more scoring to come, and some incredible defense. A Davis interception kept Fairview within striking distance, and even though Mountain Vista added a field goal to make it 45-34 moments later, the Knights were not fazed. Ellison connected with Ryder Villareal to bring Fairview within 45-41, and a Rechel two-point conversation made it a three-point game.

The Knights gambled with an onside kick, and the gamble paid off. Ellison then found Davis for the go-ahead score and the defense hunted down another Modrzewski throw to seal the win.