Photo Gallery: Hillcrest Stuns Mauldin

This story has been updated.

The Mauldin Mavericks came to Hillcrest High on Friday night looking for a tenth-straight win against their archival Rams.

It wasn't to be.

In the battle of the Golden Strip, the Rams — coming off a dismal 2-9 season last year — scored a late 4th quarter touchdown to stun the Mavericks 44-42 in from of a delirious home crowd.

It looked as if the game would go as the previous nine had, as the Mavericks quickly rolled up 14 points early in the first quarter, the second score coming deep in Rams territory on a wide-open fourth-and-long TD pass.

Instead of folding, Hillcrest clawed its way back into the game, going into halftime down 28-24 to Mauldin.

By the end of the third quarter, Hillcrest had taken the lead, 38-35, with momentum seemingly in its favor. Then, on a long quarterback keeper, Mauldin scored a TD to go ahead. The go ahead score took the air out of the Ram's crowd, until late in the fourth quarter when the Ram's final TD sealed the win, ending years of futility.

The Rams (1-0) play at home again next week against Wade Hampton, while the Mavericks (0-1) will seek to rebound as they battle Woodmont High at home.