IRVING — Pedro Maldonado hooked up with Christopher Hernandez for a 59-yard scoring strike in the final minute of the game as Irving Nimitz came back to defeat Irving 30-25 Thursday night at Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium.

The win was the first of the season for Nimitz (1-6 overall, 1-4 in District 7-6A) and the fifth in a row against its crosstown rivals. Irving (1-5, 0-4) had taken the lead just minutes earlier when Patrick Banich booted a 25 yard field goal with 2:11 remaining to make it 25-24.

But on a fourth-and-14, Maldonado, who threw for 201 yards and ran for 161 more, found Hernandez cutting between two defenders at the Irving 20 and hauled in the catch for the score with just 53 seconds left in the game. Defensive back Sakeivon Gordwin then intercepted a pass by Irving's Connor Martin in the final seconds to secure the win for Nimitz, which now leads the series with Irving, 27-22.

Irving came into the game having scored just one touchdown total over its previous three games, but took a 22-17 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to two second quarter touchdown runs by David Perez.

Zaylin Washington's 1-yard run midway through the third quarter regained the lead for Nimitz, 24-22, and set the stage for the exciting fourth-quarter finish.