Williams Field's season ended at the hands of Thunderbird for the second straight year on Friday.
This time, there wasn't any second-guessing about what could have gone differently.
The Black Hawks let last year's 4A Division II title game slip away against the Chiefs, but Thunderbird was dominant this time around in a 27-7 victory in the first round of the Division III postseason at Williams Field.
Thunderbird running back Kani Benoit ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns as the ninth-seeded Chiefs move on to face No. 1 Tucson Sabino in the state quarterfinals.
"We lost to a good football team," Williams Field coach Steve Campbell said. "Our kids worked their butts off, so what are you going to be frustrated about?"
The Black Hawks (8-3) had trouble offensively the whole night.
Star running back Alex Howard was mostly held in check, as he finished the game with 28 carries for 125 yards. Quarterback Garrett Forsgren was 11-of-26 passing for 121 yards.
Williams Field trailed 21-0 at halftime before cutting the deficit to 21-7 when Forsgren found Jordan Johnson for a 42-yard score.
However, Connor Hustead returned the ensuing kickoff to the Williams Field 25, and Benoit scored on a run on the next play.
The Black Hawks wouldn't threaten the rest of the way.
"This is the best game we've played all year," Thunderbird coach Brent Wittenwyler said.
Thunderbird jumped ahead early when Benoit scored on a 65-yard run on the Chiefs' first offensive play from scrimmage, and the Chiefs added two more touchdowns in the second quarter.
Williams Field was without second-leading rusher and dynamic return man Sean Schweichler because of a knee injury. Without him, and with high winds affecting the passing game on both sides, Thunderbird could key on Howard.
"They didn't try to be a hero," Wittenwyler said of his defensive players. "They understand their job and did their job."
Williams Field started the season 8-1 but lost the regular season finale to Queen Creek last week and then this one to end its season.
