Tucker Sennett is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism assigned to cover Williams Field High School for AZPreps365.com

With a chance to drive down the field and win the game, the Williams Field Black Hawks left everything they had on the field.

Junior quarterback Xavier Buckles was brought down by a gang of Perry defenders before he could heave a desperation pass. The Pumas kneeled it out to secure a 31-30 victory at home.

Williams Field coach Steve Campbell and running back Dylan Lee shared similar sentiments about the result.

“That game is on us at the end of the day and we have to figure it out as a team and do anything to get a good seed in the playoffs,” Lee said.

A number of frustrating moments for Campbell ultimately cost his squad the game.

“We are still beating ourselves and until we decide to stop doing that it doesn’t really matter,” he said.

The game was filled with explosive plays.

From the first kickoff, the offenses of both teams put on a stellar display.

After a first-drive turnover on downs by Perry, Williams Field took no time establishing its offense.

Junior quarterback Kody Guy took an option play himself for 70-plus yards and a touchdown. From that moment on, it was a fireworks show.

Perry was methodical, utilizing powerful senior running back Don Tinsley to draw attention from star quarterback Diesel Taylor.

Taylor tallied a passing touchdown to tie things at seven apiece, but the Black Hawks struck back immediately.

Senior running back Dylan Lee took an inside handoff 80 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the drive. The explosive runs were clearly the recipe for Williams Field early.

Perry finally slowed the Black Hawks down when Buckles, in for Guy, was picked off. The Pumas returned the interception inside the Williams Field red zone and took a 21-14 lead with a Tinsley touchdown.

After a crucial stop to force a field goal with around two minutes to go, Williams Field trailed by 10 with a chance to cut the lead before the half.

Guy led a drive deep into Puma territory, with senior wideout Josh Sandru pulling in an impressive sideline catch to set up a field goal. However, the field goal attempt was blocked by the Pumas, ending the first half 24-14.

Williams Field tied the game at 24 with about five minutes left in the third quarter. Buckles was able to hit Sandru from the Perry 6-yard line.

The Black Hawks took control after intercepting Taylor early in the fourth quarter to stop a lengthy Perry drive.

Lee pounded the Pumas on the ground, converting multiple 3rd-and-short situations and eventually piling into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.

“From an offensive line standpoint, I thought we played really well,” he said. “We have to go back to the drawing board to figure things out though.”

Instead of taking a seven-point lead, sophomore kicker Brooks Rodenbaugh’s extra point attempt hit the left upright and spun over the top of the goal post.

Much to Campbell’s chagrin, the attempt was called no-good.

“You just can’t put yourself in that position,” he said.

The Pumas responded with a touchdown to take a 31-30 lead.

With Guy back in the game, the junior quarterback turned the wrong direction on a handoff to Lee and fumbled the ball, allowing Perry to milk an enormous amount of clock before the Williams Field defense stopped the Pumas at the 1-yard line.

The missed opportunities ultimately cost Williams Field the game.

The Williams Field defense struggled in spots, especially with tackling.

“We get a little scared, we get a little nervous because we are a young defense and we just have to click,” senior defensive end Javon Maxey said.

A pair of big stops inside the red zone, including the interception of Taylor, were the highlight plays.

Perry junior linebacker Jackson Sands was the standout performer for the Pumas, securing an interception and a fumble recovery.

The Pumas moved to 7-1, while the Black Hawks fell to 5-3 with two more chances to prove they belong in the postseason.

“I’m fired up for the rest of the season in general,” Lee said. “We’ll figure it out eventually.”