With their back against the wall after a disappointing loss at Wichita Falls High last week, the Wylie Bulldogs left themselves no choice but to beat Canyon Randall on Friday night at Hugh Sandifer Stadium if they hoped to get back in the playoff picture in District 3-5A Division II.

Entering the game at 0-2 in league play, the Bulldogs knew their cleanest — and likely only — path to the postseason was a 3-0 finish to the regular season. And to get to 3-0, they had to first go 1-0 against the Raiders.

Fueled by a shutdown defensive performance, a handful of timely drives and one heck of a clutch kick by senior Grayson Bearden, Wylie accomplished the first phase of its mission, edging Randall 16-13 on a 45-yard field goal by Bearden with 59 seconds remaining in the game.