Skyline hasn't played in many big games, certainly not one protecting a top ranking in football vs. a team right on its heels  -- No. 2 Williams Field.

That was the case Thursday night and the Coyotes came through at crunch time to post a 17-7 victory over Williams Field in a Division II contest at Skyline High.

Skyline improved to 9-0 overall, 4-0 section and can clinch its section title with a Mesa High loss on Friday vs. Higley or a Skyline win next week over Mesa. Williams Field (7-2, 3-1) saw its six-game winning streak end as the Black Hawks couldn't pull this one out late after winning three similar games prior to this one. 

Skyline was pressed to the end and used a 92-yard scoring drive and strong defense in the final period to prevail. Skyline's vaunted running game was stymied by Williams Field so the Coyotes had to go to the air for some big gains to produce most of its points. Quarterback TJ Duarte completed 11 of 14 passes for 195 yards -- 83 of those yards coming on the winning drive that snapped a 7-7 tie.

"They stuffed the box and we couldn't run," Skyline coach Angelo Paffumi said. "We didn't have our play-action game. It was more what Williams Field did than what we didn't do.Tonight the defense carried us. Last couple weeks our offense carried us."

Skyline's 1,000-yard rusher Amarii' Keyes was limited to 67 yards on 26 carries with a long run of 11 yards. Mason Crawford caught five passes for 65 yards, his best production of the season to help offset the tough-sledding for Skyline's rushing attack. Crawford had seven catches for the season coming into the game.

Skyline led 7-0 at halftime thanks to an 80-yard march late in the second period. The Coyotes gained 62 of the 80 yards via the pass although the score came on an 11-yard run by Jonathan Jackson 1:48 before intermission.

Williams Field tied the game with a ground-and-pound drive late in the third period -- a period it dominated. The lone pass of a 10-play, 49-yard drive was a 12-yard TD from quarterback Weston Murphy to tight end Hunter Ives at the 2:54 mark of the quarter. The Black Hawks outgained Skyline, 82-0, in the third period. The Black Hawks were outgained, 178-61, in the first half.

With the momentum headed Williams Field's way, Skyline emerged from the offensive doldrums with its 92-yard march. Duarte tossed completions of 22, 40 and 21 yards to Dimetres Moore, Manny Ruiz and Jackson, respectively. Kaleb Hardin's 2-yard run with 8:08 to play gave Skyline the lead for good at 14-7.

"TJ is calm out there," Paffumi said. "He managed the game well. He's a football player."

Less than a minute later the game came to a halt for 30 minutes after a horrific foot injury to Williams Field running back Evan Price. Price's left foot was pretty much mangled as he was brought down on a 4-yard run with 7:20 to play. Paramedics were summoned and Price was taken to Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center and its valued trauma center. Price left the field giving a thumbs up and received considerate applause from both sides.

When play resumed it was up to Skyline to hold the lead. The Coyotes stopped Williams Field on a fourth-and-one at the Skyline 46. Williams Field returned the favor stopping Skyline at the WF 32 with 2:14 to play.

But on first down after that stop, Skyline snuffed out a screen pass attempt that was intercepted by lineman Jesus Prieto. That led to a 33-yard field goal by Daniel Espino, the game clincher with 37 seconds left. Williams Field tried one more pass, but it was picked off by Skyline's Jacob Scott.