HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS : Notre Dame Moves to Brink of School History : Playoffs: Knights defeat Serra, 27-14, and set up chance to win first Southern Section football title.

Notre Dame High will play for the first Southern Section football title in school history after defeating Serra, 27-14, in the Division III semifinals Friday night at Serra High.

The Knights (12-1) will play the winner of tonight’s Diamond Bar-Ayala game for the championship next Friday at a site to be determined.

In the victory over Serra, Chris Sailer kicked field goals of 43 and 50 yards, quarterback Ryan Bowne engineered three lengthy touchdown drives and the defense did the rest. The Knights held Serra (8-5) to only 147 yards--all rushing.

Linebacker David Dupetit had a game-clinching interception at the Serra 32-yard line with less than a minute to play.

To make the victory sweeter, senior tackle Peter Forlano played briefly in the first half in his first game back since undergoing emergency brain surgery seven weeks ago.

“I’m absolutely elated,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “One of the things I like about these guys is that when the other team gets a huge play, our guys come back and don’t let the momentum change.”

Serra scored both its touchdowns in lightning-quick fashion. Running back Frank Rice ran 79 yards for a score in the second quarter.

Late in the third quarter, defensive back David Burr ran 77 yards after picking up a fumble by Alvin Arzu, but Notre Dame still led, 17-14.

Serra couldn’t stop Bowne and Sailer. Sailer’s 50-yard kick gave the Knights a 20-14 lead with eight minutes to play. Three minutes later Bowne, who rushed for two touchdowns, drove the Knights 39 yards in seven plays--the big play an 18-yard completion to tight end Andy Breman--before tailback John Garcia went 11 yards for the touchdown.

The Knights received the game’s first break when Robert Jenkins muffed Sailer’s punt, and Corey Franzini recovered for Notre Dame at the Serra seven-yard line. Five plays and a penalty later, Bowne ran five yards on a keeper for a touchdown.

When Sailer, who now has a state record 20 field goals this season, booted his 43-yard field goal, the Knights had a 17-7 halftime lead.