Eastside Catholic was close, but came up shy, 45-43, in Thursday’s must-win matchup with Bainbridge.

A potential game-tying two-point conversion pass from quarterback Trey Reynolds with 2:56 remaining just missed its target, and Bainbridge held on to secure the third and final playoff seed from the Metro Mountain division.

Eastside Catholic trailed by two touchdowns on two separate occasions, falling behind 14-0 to start the game, and 38-24 at the start of the third quarter.

The Crusaders battled back in both instances, pulling the halftime score to 31-24, and closing the second half deficit to 38-37 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.

The Spartans pushed the lead back to 45-37 with a 15-yard run for a TD, before Chevy Walker’s 15-yard TD run pulled the score to 45-43.

Walker, who had 23 carries for 206 yards, also scored on a 45-yard run earlier in the second half.

Reynolds ended the game completing 16 of 29 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed six times for 61 yards and a TD.

Wide receiver Jake Springfield caught four passes for 95 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown.

Eastside Catholic, 1-3 league and 5-3 overall, plays West Seattle at 5 p.m., Saturday in a consolation game.

Bainbridge (2-2, 6-2) plays the No. 3 from the Metro Sound division, Nathan Hale, for a district playoff berth.