MANSFIELD --- Jerod Evans had one thought when the stepped into the Mansfield huddle with 40 seconds on the clock and his team trailing by four points.

“I was praying that I would be the hero today,’’ the senior quarterback said. “I’ve never had a comeback win in my whole life.’’

He does now.

His 52-yard touchdown pass to his brother, junior Lance Evans, with one second remaining sent Mansfield over Mansfield Timberview, 29-27, Friday night at Vernon Newsom Stadium.

“I was running a skinny post,’’ Lance Evans said. “I didn’t think the ball was coming to me. But I got past the cornerback and I saw the ball. I caught it and just kept running.’’

It was the third and final lead change in the wild final four minutes.

Jerod Evans said the two hooked up on long passes like that a hundred times a day to win imaginary games. This time, though, it was for real.

“I’ve been in games that went to the wire plenty of times,’’ Mansfield coach Jeff Hulme said. "But I can’t remember one that was decided with one second left. Our kids never gave up.’’

With 3:45 left, Jerod Evans lifted Mansfield (4-0, 1-0 District 5-5A) to its first lead of the night, 23-21, on a 38-yard pass to Montreal Taylor. The scoring play came on third-and-18 and was a hint of things to come. The quarterback completed 9-of-17 for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

Timberview (3-1, 0-1) answered with a clutch 71-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead, 27-23, on a 10-yard run by Rickey Gross with 40 seconds left.

“We’re still inexperienced for how far we’ve come,’’ Timberview coach Mark Walker said. “Big games are still new for us. Mansfield’s been in a lot of them. We missed on too many opportunities against a good football team. You can’t ever let up.’’

Walker said his defense was in deep coverage on Mansfield’s winning score.

Timberview forged a 21-10 halftime lead, mixing the runs of 5-foot-5 Josh Smith with the darts of left-handed quarterback Chuck Taylor.

Mansfield began its comeback with a fourth-down stop of Smith at the Tigers 42.

Kenneth Burks, who led the Tigers with 132 rushing yards on 11 carries, bolted 58 yards on the first play after the change of possession to bring Mansfield within four points. 21-17.

A fumble recovery by Mansfield defensive end Hassan Ridgeway set up the Tigers’ go-ahead score.

“We’ve just got to let this one go,’’ said Timberview’s Walker.

Said Jerod Evans: “It was the brother-to-brother connection tonight.’’