HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FINALS : Notre Dame Passes Way Into History : Southern Section Division III: Bowne leads Knights over Ayala, 27-20, for school’s first title.

Ryan Bowne couldn’t stop the tears and Robbie Brewster couldn’t stop signing autographs.

Even Coach Kevin Rooney got carried away--on his players’ shoulders--after Notre Dame High captured the Southern Section Division III football championship with a 27-20 victory over Ayala on Friday night before a crowd of about 5,000 at Pierce College.

For Notre Dame (13-1), which came from behind twice to win, the title is the first in the school’s 47-year history, an accomplishment not lost on coaches or players, who went wild with jubilation.

“I just can’t believe this,” Brewster, a senior wide receiver, said, scribbling his name on the caps of several young boys. “This is unbelievable.”

Brewster hauled in two touchdown passes from Bowne, including the game-winner from 32 yards with 3 minutes 5 seconds to play.

The Knights trailed, 6-0, and 13-10, and looked like they might be run right off the field early in the game by the Bulldogs’ ball-control offense that engineered a 10-minute touchdown drive to open the scoring.

But Bowne, playing his best game of the season, completed 15 of 25 passes for 221 yards to keep the Knights alive. He connected with Brewster for a 27-yard touchdown pass play in the second quarter to give Notre Dame a 7-6 lead.

Afterward, the junior quarterback was overcome with tears.

“I don’t know how to (express) how I feel,” he said.

Such is usually the case with Rooney, the Knights’ stoic coach who was handed a cigar after the final gun.

“I’m going to go smoke this,” he said, jokingly.

Rooney, in his 15th season at Notre Dame, said the victory was typical of his team.

“I’m going to remember this team as a bunch of guys who were always fighting back,” Rooney said.

The game almost came down to a memorable climax as Bowne drove the Knights 78 yards in the final five minutes. Notre Dame kicker Chris Sailer, who booted field goals of 24 and 57 yards, was warming up on the sideline in anticipation of settling the issue with his powerful right leg.

Sailer finished the season with a state-record 22 field goals and tied the state career mark of 33 with his 57-yarder in the third quarter.

But Brewster, who finished with four catches for 97 yards, caught Bowne’s pass over the middle and broke a pair of tackles at the 10-yard line to reach the end zone.

“I was waiting for the chance,” Sailer said. “But we did it the easy way.”

Ayala (12-2) chewed up 10 minutes 27 seconds with a 95-yard, first-half drive that culminated with fullback Rocky O’Brien’s three-yard touchdown burst.

Ryan Collins’ extra-point attempt failed and Ayala led, 6-0.

Bowne then drove Notre Dame 61 yards in seven plays to give Notre Dame a 7-6 lead.

HARTBROKEN: Antelope Valley High stuns Hart to claim the Southern Section Division II championship. C1