Havasu came alive late and put on an aerial show but it was too little, too late as Kingman won the final game of the season for both teams Friday.

Max Delia (21) runs for a successful two-point conversion Friday night during the final home game of the season for the Fighting Knights. Kingman won 42-21. Jillian Danielson/Special to the News-Herald.

Playing at Lee Barnes Stadium at Lake Havasu High School, the Bulldogs won 42-21.

Kingman owned the third quarter, scoring twice on an 11-yard catch by G. Herrera and a 25-yard keeper by quarterback Dylan Smith.

Kingman was also able to intercept Havasu’s Paul Lake twice as the Fighting Knights tried to get something going.

It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter, down 42-8, that Havasu was able to muster an attack. Doug Greene at quarterback tossed a 40-yard strike to Kris Larson for the score. And then Havasu’s Max Dreager recovered the onside kick for another try at offense.

Greene exploited that opportunity, tossing a 15-yard bullet to Chad Hertz for the Knights second score in less than a minute.

“We know what we can do together. I can trust all of my receivers to make the catches,” Greene said.

But the next onside kick was recovered by Kingman, who was able to run out the clock for the win.

“Hats off to Kingman, they ground pounded us. They took it to us in the trenches,” said Havasu head coach Karl Thompson.

Havasu was first on the scoreboard, taking the opening kick 74-yards downfield. The drive was capped by Greene’s first touchdown pass of the night, a 25-yard strike to Jeremy Holtzen. Then Lake tossed the ball to Max Delia for the 2-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.

It looked like it was going to be a Havasu night, as Havasu DB Grant Greeley picked off Smith on the Bulldogs’ first offensive series. But the Knights weren’t able to turn the interception into points.

Instead Kingman’s Danny Gonzalez intercepted Lake to give Kingman another try. This time the Bulldogs were successful as Smith hit Gonzalez from 6-yards out. The 2-point conversion was good and the game tied.

Havasu got inside the 10 on the next series but couldn’t cross the goal line and Homero Rueda’s field goal try was no good when the snap sailed over the head of holder Lake.

That seemed to open the floodgates and Kingman scored the next five times they had the ball.

“We came out ready but Kingman did too,” Thompson said. “I thought we had momentum, with that Greeley interception, but some early miscues took us out of it.”

Thompson said he saw a strong performance from his veterans and some of the players that will see more playing time next year and those that had their first varsity experience Friday.

“I’m proud of the guys. They could have given up but they didn’t,” he said. “We have seven juniors and one sophomore returning next year so now they’ve got the game experience. Now what we need is to be more consistent.”

The win gives Kingman (3-7) their first three-win season since 2000. Havasu finished the season at 4-7.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.