The two ranked teams slugged it out for four quarters and then a pair of overtimes, with the Tigers prevailing 21-14 in front of a large homecoming gathering and played in a light drizzle and windy conditions.

Tied at 14-14 at the end of regulation, neither team could muster any points in the first OT as both defenses stepped up — the Colts being held on downs on their first possession and then Logan Beam causing an EHS fumble on a second-and-goal from the 7 to extend the game for the visitors.

In the second OT, the Tigers went to their workhorse and the school’s new all-time leading rusher Nick Bowers and he came through.

Bowers’ first carry went for nine yards before the Colts held him to no yards on the next two plays.

Philip Barbour’s Logan Beam (15) looks for running room on the outside as Tiger defender Devin Hulver (77) pursues Friday night at Tiger Stadium.

On fourth down, Bowers got outside of the defense and raced into the end zone to put Elkins on top 21-14 after Lucas D’Angelo added the all-important extra-point kick.

The Colts picked up a yard on their series, and then two incomplete passes led to a fourth-and-nine.

Philip Barbour quarterback Braylyn Edwards then was forced out of the pocket and was sacked to end the game.

The contest appeared to be in line for a high-scoring encounter as both teams scored on their first possessions of the night.

Off the opening kickoff, the Tigers went on a 70-yard drive, which nearly took up the entire first quarter.

Bowers, who rambled for a season-low 150 yards on 26 totes, capped off the march with a 2-yard run with just 1:33 left in the opening canto.

On their first possession, the Colts answered with a long drive of their own, with Beam going in from 3 yards out to tie the game with 10:31 left in the second quarter.

Griffin Thompson added the PAT kick.

The game remained tied at 7-7 until Beam found the end zone with 4:47 left in the third quarter on another 3-yard run.

Beam had 141 yards on the night on 24 attempts.

A turning point in the game came with 6 minutes left to play.

A high snap went over the PB punter and Elkins took over on the Colts’ 19-yard line, leading to Bowers’ 13-yard run that tied the game at 14-14 with 5:05 left.

Philip Barbour then drove into Tiger territory and got into position for a potential game-winning field goal.

The first attempt missed from 42 yards out but a roughing-the-kicker penalty led to another opportunity.

A botched snap, however, forced the extra session, which turned into two.

The Class AA, fourth-rated Colts are now 3-2 on the season and will visit Berkeley Springs next Friday.

Elkins, which came into the game ninth in triple-A travel to Grafton on the same evening.