The Wildcats finally put one in the win column.

After a season of struggles, Filer got the big plays when needed to defeat Gooding 28-21 in Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference football action Friday night.

"Things are finally clicking for us," said senior quarterback Nathan Hughes, who passed for 222 yards and a pair of scores. "They weren't the prettiest throws, but the receivers caught them."

The game wasn't pretty as the teams combined for eight turnovers and double digit penalties.

The Senators scored on their first possession as quarterback Tyler Rex hooked up with Austin Basterrechea and Chris Barker a pair of times. Barker got the touchdown from 4 yards out.

Two Gooding penalties put the Wildcats in the red zone on their third possession. Tyler Kreft picked up 12 yards while Hughes pushed it in the final yard tying the score.

A partially blocked punt again put Filer in Gooding territory. Hughes connected twice with Nathan Kreft for gains of 18 and 20 while scrambling. Kreft put the Wildcats up at half with a 2-yard score.

"Everything is for the seniors, every time I run the ball it is for them," said Kreft, a junior who tallied 81 yards rushing and grabbed an interception.

It could have been tied as Gooding drove 66 yards in eight plays only to fumble at the goal line.

Filer opened the second half with an interception by Jeremy Astle. Hughes didn't wait to take advantage, hitting Matt Jones from 37 yards out, extending the lead to 20-6.

"When it is cold it is who wants it more. We started slow, but came on in the end," added Hughes.

Late in the game, Rex connected with Basterrechea again for 46 yards while Casey Pierson scored from the 1, cutting the deficit to seven.

The teams traded scores in the final two minutes. Gooding had a chance to force overtime with the ball at the 10 with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Filer sophomore Ryan Orr came up with the biggest play of the game, grabbing the interception at the goal line.

"I saw it coming and caught the ball. I just wanted to score," said Orr, who chipped in 16 yards rushing.

Gooding coach Chris Comstock said Filer made the plays they had to.

"We scored early, then got a couple penalties to give them a short field. They threw it up and made the catches," said Comstock.

Gooding takes a break from conference play by hosting Wendell. The Wildcats get two weeks to celebrate before ending the season against Kimberly.

Filer 28, Gooding 21

Gooding 6 0 0 15 - 21

Filer 0 14 6 8 - 28

First Quarter

Gooding-Chris Barker 4 pass from Tyler Rex (kick failed) 4:01

Second Quarter

Filer-Nathan Hughes 1 run (kick failed) 10:42

F-Tyler Kreft 2 run (Cassidy Babb run) 3:23

Third Quarter

F-Matt Jones 37 pass from Hughes (kick failed) 11:35

Fourth Quarter

G-Casey Pierson 1 run (Jordan Gill run)

F-Jeremy Astle 29 pass from Hughes (Nathan Karel pass from Hughes) 2:05

G-Pierson 1 run (Pierson run) 1:11