#6 Perry's much-maligned defense rose to the occasion Friday night in attempting to slow down #2 Pinnacle's the high-powered offense. An offense that piled up 59 points against the Pumas in the season opener on Aug. 17.

The result was astonishing as Perry forced four turnovers, blanked Pinnacle in the first half and led from start to finish in a 45-14 triumph in a 6A semifinal at North Canyon High School.

Perry (11-2) will play in its second consecutive title game on when it gets a rematch with two-time defending champ Chandler (12-1) on Dec. 1 at Sun Devil Stadium. Chandler survived in overtime to edge Highland, 36-35, in overtime. Pinnacle finished up 11-2 with its deepest playoff run in school history.

"Our defense has taken a lot of heat," Perry coach Preston Jones said. "They've been lights out the last three or four weeks. What did we get tonight? Three turnovers? Four. Really pround of how they played because that's a very good offense we faced."

Pinnacle posted 602 yards of offense in the first meeting with Perry and settled for 352 in the rematch.  The 14 points Pinnacle scored were a season-low. The previous low was 23.

Fans and players were likely shocked that the halftime score was 10-0 (Perry on top). Most expected a shootout with the 30s or 40s expected for both teams. The only TD of the half was set up by the first of the four Pinnacle miscues -- an interception by Perry's Kellen Simmons.

The five-play, 42 yard drive was due to a pair of the 12 receptions (108 yards) senior receiver Colbie Dickey hauled in and the start of some bullish running from senior Jalen Young (11 carries 140 yards), Young hit paydirt with a 22-yard run with 8:44 left in the half. Perry added a 25-yard field goal by Samuel Cross 119 before intermission. 

Perry made life difficult for Pinnacle junior quarterback JD Johnson in the opening half. The Pumas sacked Johnson three times and allowed 13 completions in 25 attempts for 143 yards. Johnson wasn't at his best missing a few throws and having several dropped in the second half. He finished 18 of 38 for 212 yards.

Perry used just more than one minute to begin the second half to extend the lead to 17-0 with Young accounting for 71 yards on two carries , including his second TD from 11 yards out. Pinnacle pulled within 17-7 marching 80 yards in nine plays, capped by a Johnson to Marcus Libman 30-yard strike. 

After Perry punted, Pinnacle took possession aiming to make it a one-score game. But defensive lineman Ryan Short recovered a fumble at the Pinnacle 15. On the next play Perry quarterback Chubba Purdy hooked up with Dickie for a 17-yard TD.  Purdy was 17 of 27 passing for 181 yards.

Purdy upped the ante with nifty 55-yard TD run as the third period ended, making it 31-14. The Pumas' defense added two more takeaways and did not give up a pass completion (0 for 8) in the fourth quarter. 

Protecting that lead as the final quarter began, Perry's defense shined. Andrei Mayberry picked off Johnson with 9:30 to play after Pinnacle had good field position at the Perry 40. Young added his third TD a possession later with an 18-yard run and the final interception by Clayton Schmitz set up the final score -- a Peyton Hill 4-yard run.