A kicker who hadn’t converted a field goal this season kicked the game winner in overtime to clinch his program's first state championship game appearance.

Only in Pucsh Ridge Christian’s dreams.

A week after a three-point win, Team Destiny did again. Tamerat McLeod fumbled three times Saturday, but his right leg booted his doldrums away and his team into Saturday’s Division IV state championship game against Northwest Christian at Chaparral High.  

McLeod’s 27-yard field goal in overtime gave Pusch Ridge a 17-14 win against Lake Havasu at Arcadia High. The sophomore, one of about eight Pusch Ridge sophomore starters, missed his only other field goal opportunity “badly” this season.

But because of his quick approach and release, he was asked last week to practice on his kicking. Lake Havasu called a timeout in overtime to try and ice McLeod.

“Coach just told me that good things happen when you just put your head down when you kick,” said McLeod about what his coach told him during the timeout. “Let the crowd and my teammates tell me if I made it.”

McLeod admitted he took a peak to see the flight of the ball before he heard the roar of his teammates and fans.

Pusch Ridge continues to overachieve while playing up a division this season. The errors, four turnovers, and facing a bigger team team didn’t stop Pusch Ridge’s players from lowering their heads and charging forward Saturday.

Lake Havasu scored its two touchdowns after Pusch Ridge turned the ball over.

“We had a terrible start to this game,” Pusch Ridge coach Troy Cropp said. “We are just fortunate to get the win. You can’t make those mistakes and win those games at this level.”

But after Lake Havasu scored with 11:50 remaining in the second quarter, Pusch Ridge held its Division IV semifinal opponent scoreless the rest of the game.

Lake Havasu, however, missed field goals of 46, 41 and 34 yards in the game. Linebacker James Raica’s interception in the only overtime period helped set up McLeod’s heroics.

Pusch Ridge has a stable of running backs, including Raica, who ran a lot behind a 7-man line Saturday. Raica ran in the first score for his team with the help of a 30-yard over the shoulder catch by Ben Walker during a 64-yard, second quarter drive.

Quarterback Cody Cropp lofted a beautifully thrown ball to Walker on that play.

Pusch Ridge used a Lake Havasu turnover on downs in the third quarter to score its second touchdown, a 1-yard run by Mitch Maas.

“They are not intimidated now,” said coach Cropp about his team.

Pusch Ridge (12-1) was penalized only twice in the game.

For the first time since 2006, a White Mountain football team won’t play for a state football championship.

Northwest Christian took care of the final White Mountain team, Snowflake, remaining in the D-IV state tournament. But it took a while for Northwest Christian to put away a very tough Snowflake team.

Caleb Egherman finally gave Northwest Christian some breathing room with his 22-yard touchdown run around left end with five minutes remaining in Saturday’s D-IV semifinal nightcap. And then sealed the 23-12 win with his second interception.

The first interception, when he jumped a route late in the second quarter, helped set up a Northwest Christian field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.

“The big thing is we didn’t panic and made enough plays to win it,” Northwest Christian coach David Ennis said.

Northwest Christian (11-2) will play in a state championship game for the fourth time in Ennis’ six years as the head coach.