A defensive struggle turned into an offensive explosion in a Valley Oak League tilt pitting Kimball and host Sierra at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium on Friday.

Quarterback Mark Vicente amassed 263 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-20 passing, as Sierra held off the game Jaguars 28-18 to stay in the running for a postseason berth.

It was scoreless for more than a half before Ryan Rivera busted an 80-yard touchdown run to put Kimball (0-4 VOL, 1-6 overall) ahead. Sierra answered with 6:23 left in the third as Vicente completed a 15-yard toss to Jimmy Galindo, who wound up with 108 yards on his four catches.

Kimball jumped ahead for the final time on Shammah Luani’s 1-yard touchdown run but could not slow down Sierra’s spread attack from there.

The Timberwolves (2-2, 4-3) carried a 15-12 lead into the fourth quarter after Vicente’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Wyatt and ensuing 2-point conversion run with less than a minute to go in the third.

Sierra was ignited by the defense in the fourth as the Jaguars threatened to score again. That was when Scott Teicheira came up with a tide-turning interception, setting up Galindo’s 67-yard touchdown reception on the next play.

Mark Paule made it 28-12 with 4:45 remaining with his 11-yard run. Luani later hooked up with Ben Radetich for a 34-yard touchdown pass for Kimball to cap the final score.

Sierra has a good shot at making the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs by winning two of its last three games but none of them are cakewalks. The Timberwolves head to undefeated Central Catholic next week.