It was one of those games where  the thinking was the team with the ball last would win.

Almost.

Williams Field stopped Notre Dame quarterback Jordan Gehrke short of the goal line on an attempt for two points with 19 second left Friday afternoon allowing the Black Hawks to hang on for an offensive 49-48 victory in a 4A-II semifinal game at Paradise Valley High School.

Wiliams Field (13-0) advances to its first ever football title game in just its second full season competing for a state title in the sport. Notre Dame (11-2) was denied its first trip to the 4A-II final since winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Both of Notre Dam'e losses this season came at the hands of Williams Field. Williams Fieldnow moves on to meet  Thunderbird, a 24-17 double-overtime winner over Desert Edge, on Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. at Sun Devil Stadium for the state title.

Offense was the name of the game in this slugfes as the teamw combined for 893 yards more than 400 yards apiece.. But a couple of Notre Dame turnovers -- the second coming with four minutes left in the game on an interception tipped three times and finally grabbed by the Black Hawks Colbe Smelser- set up the go-ahead score with 3:21 to play. Williams Field, admist all the offense, did not commit a turnover in the game. They converted a Notre Dame fumble in the second period into a touchdown when Ross completed a 54-yard drive with a 1-yard run.

Doing the honors for Williams Field with his fifth touchdown of the day was running back Alex Howard. Howard's last of four short TD runs - this one from 5 yards out put Williams Field ahead 49-42. Howard also added a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. He finished the game with 166 yards on 27 carries.

Notre Dame came back as it did several times Friday and ultimately had the chance to win. Gehrke marched the Saints 82 yards 10 plays with running back Korey Jonescapping the drive with a 1-yard run. Jones scored three touchdowns, all in the second half. That pulled the Saints within 49-48 and coach Scot Bemis called time and decided to go for the win.

Bemis opted to have Gehrke roll out with an option to run or throw. Not seeing a receiver open to his lkiing, Gehrke put his head down and tried to barrell in, but was stopped a yard short by a wall of collapsing defenders.

"We had some injuries on defense so we said let''s go and get this thing done," Bemis said. "It was a great football game. We just made too many mistakes."

Williams Field coach Steve Campbell warned his team to be ready for a wild ride prior to the game.

"At the region meeting after the season we said we hoped we would get to play each other," Campbell said. "We told the kids it's going to a roller coaster in a game like this. You have to play through the ups and downs."

Other outstanding offensive performances in the game belonged to Gehrke, who completed 12-of-16 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Both Gehrke's TD passes went to receiver Brian Canavan, who caught five balls for 226 yards. Canavan alslo returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, the first of back-to-back such plays early in the second period when the teams traded scores at hectic pace.

Williams Field quarterback Tom Ross was 11-for-19 for 201 yards and one TD. His favorite target on the day was J.D. Layton (6 for 110 yards).