It wasn't the close out Joy Christian wanted or envisioned, but it will do.

Joy Christian built a 35-7 lead at halftime Saturday afternoon, but  had to sweat out some moments in the final period to finally post a 41-20 victory over never-say-die Round Valley in a Division V semifinal game at Fountain Hills High School.

Joy Christian, the No. 2 seed remained unbeaten at 12-0 and advances to the Nov. 28 title game at 2 p.m. at Chaparral High. Joy Christian will face No. 1 Benson, a 14-12 winner over  No. 4 American Leadership Academy in Saturday's other semifinal. Round Valley closed out another strong season at 10-3 with two of the losses coming to Joy Christian.

A strong first half was the impetus for Joy Christian's victory as senior quarterback Matt Mitchell tossed four touchdown passes in the first 24 minutes and running backs Tyler Graham and Quadir Talley kept Round Valley's defense honest with strong running. Round Valley scored first marching 62 yards in eight plays -- all running plays. That's the Elks forte and seemed to set a good tone for the game.

But Joy answered quickly with a short quick drive of its own to tie the game at 7 on a 1-yard run by Graham with 4:56 left in the first period. Joy settled in on defense the rest of the half, forcing a three-and-out and then scoring on the first play after change of possession to take the lead for good, 14-7, late in the quarter. Mitchell's first of four TD passes -- the first of two to wide out Isaiah Goodspeed -- began a string of 35 consecutive points and TDs on four of the Eagles next five possessions.

The turning point of the game and certainly the half took place in a 12-second span midway through the second quarter. A 19-yard TD pass from Mitchell to Joshua Keith made it 21-7 with 4:36 left to halftime. On the ensuing kickoff, Round Valley fumbled and Joy recovered at the Round Valley 27. Mitchell conneced for his third TD on the next play -- this time hitting wide out Dujuan Lawrence wide open in the end zone. Mitchell finished the game completing 15-of-22 passes for 260 yards.

Three scores down at 28-7 began to take Round Valley's ground-oriented plan away and that was totally scrapped in the final 25 seconds of the half. Mitchell hooked up again with Goodspeed for a 20-yard TD and a 35-7 margin at the break. 

Round Valley rushed for 74 yards in the first quarter, but just 18 in the second. Joy Christian outgained Round Valley 243-138 in the first half and its domination left little hope for a Round Valley comeback.

Playing with pride and renewal in the second half, the Elks repelled two early scoring threats by Joy Christian -- two missed field goals. Good fortune shined on Round Valley's passing game as receiver Clayton Merrill managed two big receptions on tipped passes. The first was good for a 66-yard TD catch and run and the second earned the Elks a first down on the Joy Christian 3 with seconds left in the third period.

 On the quarter's final play, Sullivan Udall's second rushing TD pulled Round Valley within 35-20 to start the fourth quarter. Udall rushed for 89 yards in the first half, but had only one carry in the second half with his team facing such a large deficit.

Round Valley kept the heat on Joy Christian midway through the fourth quarter. The Elks drove from their 32 to Joy Christian's 16, but an interception in the end zone by the Eagles Arric Dowe with 5:31 to play prevented Round Valley from pulling within one TD.

With a collective sigh of relief, Joy Christian's offense clinched the outcome with an 80-yard drive capped by Graham's second TD run with 1:46 to play. Graham gained 136 yards on 18 carries.